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Wilhelm    Meister's  Apprenticeship 

Volume  1 


Bos 


-ansl,-".?d 


IVilhelni  still  held  that  lovely  hand- 


Photogravure  after  the  painting  by  C.  Schweninger 


BY 


J.  W.  von  Goethe 

Translated  by 
Thomas   Carlyle 

In  Two  Volumes 
Volume   I. 


Edited  by  Nathan  Haskell  Dole 

Boston    J>     Francis    A.    Niccolls 
cj"^     Company    ^    Publishers 


1£tiition  ®e  (^ranti  Huxe 

This  Edition  is  Limited  to  Two  Hundred  and  Fifty 
Copies,  of  which  this  is  copy 

No* 5.1 


Copyright,  igoi 
By  Francis  A.  Niccolls  &  Co. 


Colonial  Press 

Electrotyped  and  Printed  by  C.  H.  Simonds  &  Co. 

Boston,  Mass.,  U  S.  A. 


pr 

1901 


Contents 


PAGE 

Editor's  Introduction vii 

To  THE  Reader xv 

Translator's  Preface xix 

Book  1 1 

Book  II 89 

Book  III 175 

Book  IV 249 


Meister's  Apprenticeship.  —  Vol.  I. 


List   of  Illustrations 

PAGE 
"  WiLHELM     STILL    HELD     THAT     LOVELY     HAND  "    (see 

page  3^6}         ......  Frontispiece 

"'I   LOOK    DOWN    BETWEEN    THE    PIECES    OF    BOARD*".         22 

«  '  I    SHALL    LAUGH    FOR    EVER  '  " 120 

"  DoST     KNOW    THE     LAND    WHERE     CITRONS,     LEMONS, 

GROW?" 177 

"  He  was  wont  to  make  them  read  "  .    .    .  339 


Meister's  Apprenticeship.  —  Vol.  L 


Introduction 

Goethe,  in  one  of  his  letters  written  in  response  to  a  com- 
munication from  a  sentimental  young  countess,  who  wrote 
him  anonymously  regarding  his  "  Werther,"  gives  a  contrast- 
ing pictxire  of  himself  in  two  phases.  The  one  is  a  carnival 
Goethe,  in  a  laced  coat  and  other  consistent  finery,  illuminated 
by  the  unmeaning  magnificence  of  sconces  and  chandelier, 
amidst  all  kinds  of  people,  kept  at  the  card-table  by  a  pair  of 
beautiful  eyes,  and  in  varying  dissipation  driven  from  party 
to  concert  and  from  concert  to  ball,  and  with  all  the  fascina- 
tion of  frivolity  paying  court  to  a  pretty  Blondine  :  a  senti- 
mental Goethe,  with  affectedly  gloomy  deep  feelings.  The 
other  is  a  wholesome  German  Goethe,  in  a  gray  beaver  coat 
and  boots,  with  brown  silk  cravat,  eagerly  detecting  the 
breath  of  spring  in  the  cool  February  air,  and  waiting  for 
his  dear  wide  world  to  open  out  once  more.  This  Goethe, 
ever  living,  striving,  and  working  in  himself,  seeks  to  express, 
according  to  his  powers,  sometimes  the  innocent  feelings  of 
youth  in  little  poems,  the  strong  spices  of  life  in  various 
dramas,  the  forms  of  his  friends  and  his  neighbourhood  and 
his  beloved  household  possessions  with  chalk  on  gray  paper, 
never  asking  if  any  of  his  work  is  destined  to  last,  for  the 
reason  that  the  very  act  of  working  makes  him  keep  rising 
higher  and  higher,  and  he  will  leap  at  no  ideal,  but  fight  and 
play,  leaving  his  feelings  to  develop  of  themselves. 

On  the  one  hand,  he  found  pleasure  in  the  gay  coquetries 
of  fashionable  life  ;  on  the  other,  he  declared  that  his  greatest 
happiness  was  to  live  with  the  best  men  of  his  time.  Goethe, 
when  he  wrote  that,  was  in  his  twenty-sixth  year.  He  had 
drunk  deeply  of  the  cup  of  life  and  had  recognised  the  danger 

vii 


viii  INTRODUCTION 

of  the  enticements  of  Circean  madness.  He  was  ready  for 
the  great  career  which  his  good  genius  whispered  to  his  inner 
consciousness  was  to  open  out  before  him.  The  pictures  that 
he  drew  of  his  double  self  were  eminently  characteristic,  but 
one  can  see  at  a  glance  which  one  he  felt  was  the  real  portrait. 
The  carnival  Goethe  was  to  be  put  away  with  other  discarded 
trumperies  of  youth.     It  had  served  its  pm-pose. 

It  may  be  supposed  that  all  men's  experiences  and  their 
environment  go  to  form  them  ;  at  all  events,  that  would  seem 
to  be  the  mission  of  the  discipline  of  life.  But  the  material 
to  be  formed  has  to  be  possessed  of  some  quality,  else  the  fire 
burns  it  out,  the  stress  breaks  its  fibres,  the  mould  fails  to 
leave  any  impress,  the  file  spoils  it.  One  cannot  polish  putty, 
or  mould  molasses,  or  twist  wood,  or  refine  granite. 

Goethe  superbly  illustrates  the  man  made  by  his  circum- 
stances ;  external  conditions  answering  to  the  inherent  quali- 
ties. He  had  all  the  chances  of  being  ruined  ;  they  were 
offered  him  freely.  A  pedantic  martinet  of  a  father  in- 
sisted that  he  should  conform  his  talents  to  a  preconceived 
course;  gay  and  dissipated  friends  helped  him  to  waste  his 
energies  ;  beautiful  girls  were  dazzled  by  his  maiily  beauty 
and  his  brilliant  powers  of  entertaining  ;  an  easy-going  code 
of  morals  prevailed  in  the  circles  in  which  he  mingled ;  he 
was  fi-eed  from  the  necessity  of  strenuous  labour ;  a  tendency 
to  procrastination  and  the  easy-going  cm'rent  of  dilletantism 
conspired  to  make  him  grow  bright  leaves  instead  of  fruit ;  a 
petty  court  for  his  home  and  a  pleasiu'e-loving  duke  for  his 
patron  might  easily  have  undermined  his  independence. 

But  the  stuff  of  the  man  was  too  genuine  to  be  disinte- 
grated by  such  destructive  forces.  He  was  subjected  to  them, 
but  when  he  found  them  working  against  him  he  withdi'ew, 
as  the  wise  man  can,  as  only  the  fool  will  not.  Late  houi's, 
overindulgence  in  unwholesome  food  and  intoxicants,  the 
more  insidious  vices  of  a  university  town,  brought  him  face  to 
face  with  the  possibility  of  an  early  death.  He  learned  his 
lesson  in  time,  and  became  a  model  of  abstemiousness  and 
regularity.     That  is  proved  by  the  colossal  amount  of  work 


INTRODUCTION  ix 

which  he  produced.  The  collected  writings  of  Goethe,  volu- 
minous as  they  are,  fail  of  completeness.  It  is  reckoned  that 
he  penned  no  less  than  ten  thousand  letters,  and  most  of  them 
were  of  the  detailed  length  which  a  high  postal  rate  always 
imposed  a  century  ago,  and  not  a  few  in  doggerel  rhyme  or 
more  serious  verse.  Multitudes  of  magazine  articles  and  re- 
views of  every  kind,  hundreds  and  hundreds  of  poems  and 
songs,  dozens  of  comedies  and  plays,  proceeded  from  that 
indefatigable  worker.  Moreover,  he  was  deeply  interested  in 
scientific  researches,  several  of  which  resulted  in  discoveries 
of  permanent  value  ;  he  had  general  and  autocratic  disposi- 
tion of  the  stage  in  Weimar  ;  his  participation  in  the  councils 
of  the  duke  was  no  less  real  and  time-consuming  because  the 
duchy  was  but  small.  He  learned  the  value  of  time  and 
shared  it  wisely  with  those  who  also  knew  its  value  and  his. 

Napoleon's  laconic  comment,  "  Voila  un  homme  !  "  sums 
up  Goethe.  The  titles  and  the  much-worshipped  German  par- 
ticle "von"  which  beckoned  to  him  like  that  morning  star 
which  he  early  chose  for  his  armorial  designation  now  seem 
insignificant  and  petty.  It  is  Goethe,  just  as  it  is  Shake- 
speare and  ^schylus  and  Homer. 

Yet  he  was  the  product  of  his  age  and  of  his  country.  The 
air  he  breathed  and  the  food  he  ate  no  more  made  his  brain 
and  brawn,  than  the  ideas  which  were  then  in  vogue  made 
his  mind.  He  was  fortunate  in  being  the  pioneer  in  an  era. 
All  the  pioneers  of  eras  are  fortunate,  for  they  help  to  make 
their  native  literature  and  art  and  science  and  politics.  They 
set  the  key  for  the  symphony  that  is  to  come.  Still  more  for- 
tunate are  the  pioneers  when  they  are  also  men  of  command- 
ing genius  :  the  Palestrinas,  the  Bachs,  the  Beethovens,  the 
Homers,  the  Shakespeares,  the  Marlowes,  the  Goethes. 

At  the  same  time,  they  have  all  the  disadvantages  of 
pioneers,  —  the  uncertainty  of  their  direction,  the  perils  of 
the  unknown,  the  likelihood  of  being  misunderstood  or  not 
believed. 

There  was  Goethe,  the  many-sided,  in  peril  of  being  made 
the  mere  impresario  of  a  puppet-show  for  a  picayune  Ger- 


X  INTRODUCTION 

man  court.  There  is  nothing  in  Goethe's  life  finer  than  his 
awakening  to  the  fact  that  he  had  a  broader  mission  than 
that  of  a  mere  purveyor  of  amusements.  It  was  after  his 
two  years'  absence  in  Italy.  He  came  back  to  Weimar  in 
1788,  and  his  friends  found  him  strangely  altered,  with  his 
head  high  above  the  petty  interests  of  the  cliquey  town.  He 
was  again  fortunate  in  having  a  patron  of  generous  instincts. 
Duke  Karl  August,  with  whom,  only  a  few  years  before, 
Goethe  had  been  ready  to  enter  into  the  most  extravagant 
revelries,  was  quick  to  recognise  the  intellectual  superiority 
of  his  privy  councillor,  and  granted  him  the  freedom  he 
craved. 

But  Germany  at  that  time  was  only  a  parcel  of  jealous  and 
insignificant  principalities,  loosely  threaded  together  on  the 
string  of  a  common  language.  Goethe  often  mourned  that  he 
had  not  the  broad-minded  and  unified  public  that  he  would  have 
had  in  England.  It  was  to  his  glory  that,  by  his  greatness, 
he  was  to  help  unify  scattered  Germany,  for  the  sense  of  pos- 
session of  such  a  man  is  a  powerful  concentrating  influence. 

In  one  of  Goethe's  letters  to  Friederike  Oeser,  whose  father 
was  director  of  the  Academy  of  Design  at  Leipsic,  there  is  a 
passage  which  casts  a  suggestive  light  on  Goethe's  character 
and  development.  It  was  written  when  he  was  twenty.  He 
says  : 

"  My  present  existence  is  devoted  to  philosophy.  Locked 
in,  solitary,  paper  and  ink,  pens,  and  a  couple  of  books,  form 
all  my  apparatus.  And  by  this  simple  road  I  arrive  at  a 
knowledge  of  truth  often  as  far  as  others,  or  even  farther, 
with  their  library  knowledge.  A  great  scholar  is  seldom 
a  great  philosopher;  and  he  who,  with  much  labour,  has 
thumbed  the  pages  of  many  books,  despises  the  easy,  simple 
book  of  nature ;  and  yet  nothing  is  true  but  what  is  simple, 
certainly  a  poor  recommendation  for  true  wisdom.  Let  him 
who  follows  the  simple  path  go  on  his  way  in  silence ;  humil- 
ity and  prudence  become  oiu"  footsteps  on  this  path,  aU  of 
which  will  eventually  meet  with  due  reward." 

This  shows  that  he  had  the  true  scientific  spirit.     It   ac- 


INTRODUCTION  xi 

companied  him  through  life,  and  enabled  him  by  the  aid  of 
his  imagination  to  make  his  discoveries  relating  to  the  mor- 
phology of  plants  and  animals  which,  in  a  way,  anticipated 
the  theories  of  Darwin.  At  the  same  time,  the  contempt 
which  he  even  here  shows  for  "  library  knowledge "  and 
merely  academic  diplomas,  grew  into  its  corollary,  a  distrust 
of  other  scientific  men.  Such  stalwart  independence,  when 
misdirected,  leads  often  to  error ;  hence  it  was  that  Goethe's 
famous  theory  of  colour,  supported  as  it  was  by  very  plausible 
arguments,  but  based  on  false  pi'emises,  was  the  result  of 
his  working  by  himself,  satisfied  with  his  notion  that  truth 
is  simple,  and  the  road  to  it  straight  and  narrow.  Though 
never  accepted  by  the  scientific  men  of  his  day,  and  now 
known  to  be  fallacious,  the  Farbenlehre  and  the  lesson  of  his 
advocacy  of  it  are  just  as  instructive  as  if  it,  like  his  new 
theories  in  osteology  and  botany,  had  been  sound. 

His  early  bent  toward  scientific  study  took  the  same  gen- 
eral direction ;  it  was  led  along  the  same  path  of  which  he 
makes  mention  in  the  letter  to  Friederike  Oeser.  Her  father, 
A.  F.  Oeser,  of  whom  he  took  lessons  in  drawing  and  painting, 
had  taught  him  to  find  beauty  in  simplicity  and  directness. 

Before  he  was  fifteen,  his  acquaintance  with  a  painter  who 
applied  his  art  to  the  manufacture  of  oilcloth  brought  about 
a  practical  familiarity  with  the  process.  When  he  was  about 
the  same  age  he  got  interested  in  the  manufacture  of  jewelry, 
and  acquired  a  considerable  knowledge  of  precious  stones. 
He  had  the  acquisitive  faculty  largely  developed,  and  his  pre- 
cocity made  him  a  welcome  companion  to  his  elders. 

He  would  gladly  have  been  an  artist,  but  his  genius  for- 
bade that.  He  failed  in  the  ability  to  express  himself  in 
terms  of  colour,  but  his  art  studies  and  his  assiduous  prac- 
tice in  Italy  had  their  effect  on  his  development.  "  Every 
man  is  led  and  misled  in  a  way  peculiar  to  himself,"  said 
Goethe,  and  his  whole  career  is  illustrative  of  that  common- 
place. Given  the  soil  and  the  seeds,  the  garden  is  certain  to 
produce  something. 

Goethe    had    the    dramatic  gift,  and  very  early  began    to 


xii  INTRODUCTION 

display  it.  He  tells  iu  his  autobiography  how  he  used  to 
delight  his  old  friend  Von  Olenschleger  by  graphically,  and 
often  through  mimicry,  depicting  the  characters  and  circum- 
stances of  the  Middle  Ages  which  the  historian  has  related 
only  as  a  matter  of  course.  The  French  occupation  of  Frank- 
fort, when  Goethe  was  a  boy  of  ten,  had  already  turned  his 
attention  to  the  stage.  A  French  theatre  was  established,  and 
he,  as  the  grandson  of  the  mayor,  had  a  free  ticket,  which  he 
seems  to  have  used  without  restraint.  He  scraped  acquaint- 
ance with  the  actors,  learned  to  speak  excellent  French,  by 
playing  with  theii-  children,  and  became  familiar  with  the 
whole  range  of  the  French  drama,  classic  and  popular.  It 
was  characteristic  of  him  to  fall  to  imitating  the  French 
forms  ;  he  wrote  a  little  piece  for  the  stage,  of  which  he 
afterward  remembered  only  that  the  scene  was  rural,  and 
that  there  was  no  lack  in  it  of  kings'  daughters,  princes,  or 
gods.  He  took  it  to  a  youth  connected  with  the  theatre,  and 
had  to  learn  his  first  lesson  in  the  classic  dramatic  liturgy. 
It  was  an  instructive  lesson,  for  it  taught  the  boy  to  think 
for  himself.  He  listened  to  what  his  friend  Derones  told 
him  about  the  three  unities  of  Aristotle,  the  regularity  of  the 
French  drama,  the  harmony  of  the  verse,  the  probability  of 
the  action,  and  then,  after  reinforcing  it  by  reading  Corneille's 
"  Treatise  on  the  Three  Unities,"  and  devouring  the  whole  of 
Racine,  Moliere,  and  a  large  part  of  Corneille,  he  came  to 
the  conclusion  that  the  dramatic  freedom  of  the  English 
drama  was  far  preferable  to  the  artificial  scheme  of  the 
French.  It  was  not  strange  that  one  who  as  a  child  had 
begun  by  imitating  Terence,  who  before  he  was  eleven  had 
got  such  an  understanding  of  the  three  greatest  dramatists 
of  France,  should  become  the  manager  of  theatrical  affairs 
for  his  sovereign,  and  should  produce  mastei-pieces  that  have 
held  the  stage  for  a  century. 

Goethe's  simple  apparatus  and  reliance  on  nature  for  his 
philosophical  researches  find  their  counterpart  in  his  literary 
work.  Only  as  a  child  he  imitated;  though,  of  course,  his 
acting  dramas  had  to  be  constructed  on  familiar  lines,  he 


INTRODUCTION  xiii 

was  quick  to  seize  on  the  occurrences  of  real  life.  His  ab- 
surdly capricious  relations  with  the  young  girl  whom  he 
called  Annchen  became  the  basis  of  his  earliest  dramatic 
writing,  "  The  Lover's  Caprice."  His  self -tormenting  penance 
at  having  caused  sorrow  and  disappointment  to  Frederica, 
the  daughter  of  the  pastor  of  Sesenheim,  was  worked  into  his 
plays  of  "  Gotz  von  Berlichingen  "  and  "  Clavigo  ;  "  his  "  Sor- 
rows of  the  Young  Werther  "  were  his  own  sorrows,  because 
Charlotte  Buff  loved  J.  C.  Kestner.  He  portrayed  his  irregu- 
lar life  at  Leipsic  in  one  scene  in  <'  Faust."  He  had  the 
power  of  coining  experiences  into  literature.  He  himself 
said  to  Eckermann,  "  I  have  never  uttered  anything  which  I 
have  not  experienced,  and  which  has  not  urged  me  to  produc- 
tion." 

Though  he  so  quickly  seized  upon  the  popular  cm'rent  of 
sentimentalism  to  float  his  romantic  productions,  his  really 
sound  and  wholesome  nature  revolted  against  the  overstrained 
and  artificial.  As  a  reaction  against  "  Werther "  he  com- 
posed "  Reinecke  Fuchs."  The  permanent  value  of  "  Faust " 
lies  in  its  wonderful  union  of  realism  with  mediaeval  super- 
naturalism.  The  pathetic  and  exquisite  story  of  Gretchen 
was  suggested  by  his  first  love  ;  his  friend  Fraulein  von  Klet- 
tenberg's  alchemistic  vagaries  took  him  back  into  the  Middle 
Ages.  His  creative  imagination  embraced  many  epochs  and 
many  countries,  but  this  imagination  required  a  basis  of 
practical  knowledge.  His  acquaintance  with  other  languages 
was  phenomenal,  he  wrote  poems  in  French,  English,  Italian, 
and  Latin.  As  a  boy  he  was  not  satisfied  until  he  read 
the  Bible  in  Hebrew.  As  old  man  his  interest  in  Oriental 
poetry  tempted  him  to  study  Persian,  Arabic,  and  Sanscrit. 
He  had  a  good  knowledge  of  modern  Greek.  He  took  pleas- 
ure in  etching,  engraving,  and  painting,  and  this  experimen- 
tal facility  stood  him  in  good  stead  in  his  oflBcial  capacity 
when  he  was  called  upon  to  criticise  and  select  works  of  art 
for  the  ducal  galleries. 

And,  with  all  this  many-sided  productiveness,  with  all  the 
reverence  and  worship  which  he  inspired,  Goethe  preserved 


xiv  INTRODUCTION 

to  a  high  degree,  and  to  an  advanced  old  age,  a  calm  serenity 
and  imperturbability,  a  gracious  consciousness  of  his  dignity 
as  a  man,  and  a  noble  humility  and  freedom  from  conceit. 
This  is  shown  in  his  autobiography,  in  his  letters,  and  in  the 
reports  of  those  that  knew  him.  He  was  not  free  from  faults, 
but,  taken  aU  in  all,  he  was  as  admu'able  a  type  of  a  man  as 
Germany  or  any  other  country  ever  produced.  His  works 
have  the  universal  quality  that  commends  them  to  read- 
ers of  every  nationality.  Even  when  transferred  to  another 
language  with  consequent  loss,  —  as  must  be  the  case  with 
the  lyi'ic  productions  especially,  —  they  still  preserve  the 
characteristic  beauty  of  thought  and  flavour  of  originality 
which  still  hold  them  as  the  classics  of  Germany.  Even 
though  the  sentimentality  of  "  Werther  "  and  the  "  Elective 
Aflfinities  "  is  of  a  flavour  that  does  not  appeal  to  our  day,  we 
recognise  it  as  an  interesting  phenomenon  of  an  epoch  past, 
and  under  it  we  see  the  genuine  heart  of  humanity  beating. 
In  "  Prometheus,"  in  "  Faust,"  in  "  Egmont,"  in  "  Tasso,"  in 
"  Iphigenia,"  no  qualifications  are  needed.  They  are  built  on 
the  eternal  rocks,  and  endowed  with  all  the  eternal  elements 
of  beauty.  This  is  true  of  a  large  part  of  Goethe's  literary 
remains.  We  should  be  much  poorer  were  "  Dichtuug  und 
Wahrheit "  stricken  out  of  existence .  It  is  a  unique  auto- 
biography ;  the  life  history  of  a  poet  tinged  with  the  sunny 
gleams  of  a  tempered  imagination.  The  lyiic  poems  also  are 
wonderful  gems  of  brilliancy,  perfect  in  form  and  full  of 
undjdng  grace. 

Thus  it  is  that  there  is  no  danger  of  Goethe's  ever  losing 
his  position  of  supremacy  as  one  of  the  greatest  writers  of  the 
world,  and  each  new  edition  of  his  works  translated  into 
English  presents  some  new  phase  of  his  wonderful  activity, 
since  from  the  almost  inexhaustible  stores  of  the  original  the 
selecting  hand  has  only  to  take  some  work  hitherto  unknown. 

Nathan  Haskell  Dole. 


To   the   Reader 

These  two  translations,  "  Meister's  Apprenticeship  " 
and  "  Meister's  Travels,"  have  long  been  out  of  print, 
but  never  altogether  out  of  demand ;  nay,  it  would 
seem,  the  originally  somewhat  moderate  demand  has 
gone  on  increasing,  and  continues  to  increase.  They 
are,  therefore,  here  republished ;  and  the  one  being  in 
some  sort  a  sequel  to  the  other,  though  in  rather  un- 
expected sort,  they  are  now  printed  together.  The 
English  version  of  "Meister's  Travels"  has  been  ex- 
tracted, or  extricated,  from  a  compilation  of  very 
various  quahty  named  "  German  Eomance,"  and  placed 
by  the  side  of  the  "  Apprenticeship,"  its  forerunner, 
which,  in  the  translated  as  in  the  original  state,  ap- 
peared hitherto  as  a  separate  work. 

In  the  "Apprenticeship,"  the  first  of  these  transla- 
tions, which  was  executed  some  fifteen  years  ago, 
under  questionable  auspices,  I  have  made  many  little 
changes,  but  could  not,  unfortunately,  change  it  into 
a  right  translation :  it  hung,  in  many  places,  stiff  and 
laboured,  too  like  some  unfortunate  buckram  cloak 
round  the  light,  harmonious  movement  of  the  original, 
—  and,  alas !  still  hangs  so,  here  and  there,  and  may 
now  hang.  In  the  second  translation,  "  Meister's 
Travels,"  two  years  later  in  date,  I  have  changed  Httle 
or  nothing.  I  might  have  added  much ;  for  the  original, 
since  that  time,  was,  as  it  were,  taken  to  pieces  by  the 
author  himself  in  his  last  years,  and  constructed  anew, 
and,  in  the  final  edition  of  his  works,  appears  with 
multifarious  intercalations,  giving  a  great   expansion, 

XV 


xvi  TO    THE    READER 

both  of  size  and  of  scope.  Not  pedagogy  only,  and 
husbandry  and  art  and  religion  and  human  conduct  in 
the  nineteenth  century,  but  geology,  astronomy,  cotton- 
spinning,  metallurgy,  anatomical  lecturing,  and  much 
else,  are  typically  shadowed  forth  in  this  second  form 
of  the  "  Travels,"  which,  however,  continues  a  fragment 
like  the  first,  significantly  pointing  on  all  hands  toward 
infinitude,  —  not  more  complete  than  the  first  was,  or 
indeed  perhaps  less  so.  It  will  well  reward  the  trust- 
ful student  of  Goethe  to  read  this  new  form  of  the 
"  Travels,"  and  see  how  in  that  great  mind,  beaming 
in  mildest  mellow  splendour,  beaming  if  also  tremb- 
ling, hke  a  great  sun  on  the  verge  of  the  horizon,  near 
now  to  its  long  farewell,  all  these  things  were  illumi- 
nated and  illustrated  :  but,  for  the  mere  EngHsh  reader, 
there  are  probably  in  our  prior  edition  of  the  "  Travels  " 
already  novelties  enough ;  for  us,  at  all  events,  it  seemed 
unadvisable  to  meddle  with  it  further  at  present. 

Goethe's  position  toward  the  English  public  is  greatly 
altered  since  these  translations  first  made  their  appear- 
ance. Criticisms  near  the  mark,  or  farther  from  the 
mark,  or  even  altogether  far  and  away  from  any  mark, 
—  of  these  there  have  been  enough.  These  pass  on 
their  road :  the  man  and  his  works  remain  what  they 
are  and  were,  —  more  and  more  recognisable  for  what 
they  are.  Few  English  readers  can  requhe  now  to  be 
apprised  that  these  two  books,  named  novels,  come  not 
under  the  Minerva-Press  category,  nor  the  Ballantyne- 
Press  category,  nor  any  such  category ;  that  the  author 
is  one  whose  secret,  by  no  means  worn  upon  his  sleeve, 
will  never,  by  any  ingenuity,  be  got  at  in  that  way. 

For  a  translator,  in  the  present  case,  it  is  enough  to 
reflect,  that  he  who  imports  into  his  own  country  any 
true  delineation,  a  rationally  spoken  word  on  any  sub- 
ject, has  done  well.  Ours  is  a  wide  world,  peaceably 
admitting  many  different  modes  of  speech.  In  our 
wide  world,  there  is  but  one  altogether  fatal  person- 


TO    THE    READER  xvii 

age,  —  the  dunce,  —  he  that  speaks  tVrationally,  that 
sees  not,  and  yet  thinks  he  sees.  A  genuine  seer  and 
speaker,  under  what  conditions  soever,  shall  be  welcome 
to  us :  has  he  not  seen  somewhat  of  great  Nature  our 
common  mother's  bringing  forth,  —  seen  it,  loved  it, 
laid  his  heart  open  to  it  and  to  the  mother  of  it,  so 
that  he  can  now  rationally  speak  it  for  us  ?  He  is 
our  brother,  and  a  good,  not  a  bad,  man :  his  words 
are  like  gold,  precious,  whether  stamped  in  our  mint, 
or  in  what  mint  soever  stamped. 

T.  Caklyle. 
London,  November,  1839. 


Translator's  Preface 

To  the  First  Edition  of  Meister's  Apprenticeship 

Whether  it  be  that  the  quantity  of  genius  among 
ourselves  and  the  French,  and  the  number  of  works 
more  lasting  than  brass  produced  by  it,  have  of  late 
been  so  considerable  as  to  make  us  independent  of 
additional  supplies ;  or  that,  in  our  ancient  aristocracy 
of  intellect,  we  disdain  to  be  assisted  by  the  Germans, 
whom,  by  a  species  of  second  sight,  we  have  discov- 
ered, before  knowing  anything  about  them,  to  be  a 
tumid,  dreaming,  extravagant,  insane  race  of  mortals, 
—  certain  it  is,  that  hitherto  our  literary  intercourse 
with  that  nation  has  been  very  shght  and  precarious. 
After  a  brief  period  of  not  too  judicious  cordiality,  the 
acquaintance  on  our  part  was  altogether  dropped :  nor, 
in  the  few  years  since  we  partially  resumed  it,  have 
our  feelings  of  affection  or  esteem  been  materially  in- 
creased. Our  translators  are  unfortunate  in  their  selec- 
tion or  execution,  or  the  pubhc  is  tasteless  and  absurd 
in  its  demands ;  for,  with  scarcely  more  than  one  or 
two  exceptions,  the  best  works  of  Germany  have  lain 
neglected,  or  worse  than  neglected :  and  the  Germans 
are  yet  utterly  unknown  to  us.  Kotzebue  still  lives 
in  our  minds  as  the  representative  of  a  nation  that 
despises  him;  Schiller  is  chiefly  known  to  us  by  the 
monstrous  production  of  his  boyhood ;  and  Klopstock 
by  a  hacked  and  mangled  image  of  his  "  Messiah,"  in 
which  a  beautiful  poem  is  distorted  into  a  theosophic 
rhapsody,  and  the  brother  of  Virgil  and  Eacine  ranks 

xbc 


XX  TRANSLATOR'S    PREFACE 

little  higher  than  the  author  of  "  Meditations  among 
the  Tombs." 

But  of  all  these  people  there  is  none  that  has  been 
more  unjustly  dealt  with  than  Johann  Wolfgang  von 
Goethe.  For  half  a  century  the  admiration  —  we 
might  almost  say  the  idol  —  of  his  countrymen,  to  us 
he  is  still  a  stranger.  His  name,  long  echoed  and  re- 
echoed through  reviews  and  magazines,  has  become 
familiar  to  our  ears ;  but  it  is  a  sound  and  nothing 
more :  it  excites  no  definite  idea  in  almost  any  mind. 
To  such  as  know  him  by  the  faint  and  garbled  version 
*  of  his  "Werther,"  Goethe  figures  as  a  sort  of  poetic 
Heraclitus;  some  woebegone  hypochondriac,  whose 
eyes  are  overflowing  with  perpetual  tears,  whose  long 
life  has  been  spent  in  melting  into  ecstasy  at  the  sight 
of  waterfalls  and  clouds,  and  the  moral  subhme,  or 
dissolving  into  hysterical  waihngs  over  hapless  love- 
stories,  and  the  miseries  of  human  Hfe.  They  are  not 
aware  that  Goethe  smiles  at  this  performance  of  his 
youth,  or  that  the  German  Werther,  with  all  his  faults, 
is  a  very  different  person  from  his  EngUsh  namesake ; 
that  his  Sorrows  are  in  the  original  recorded  in  a  tone 
of  strength  and  sarcastic  emphasis,  of  which  the  other 
offers  no  vestige,  and  intermingled  with  touches  of 
powerful  thought,  ghmpses  of  a  philosophy  deep  as 
it  is  bitter,  which  our  sagacious  translator  has  seen 
proper  wholly  to  omit.  Others,  again,  who  have  fallen 
in  with  Eetsch's  "  Outlines "  and  the  extracts  from 
"  Faust,"  consider  Goethe  as  a  wild  mystic,  a  dealer 
in  demonology  and  osteology,  who  draws  attention 
by  the  aid  of  skeletons  and  evil  spirits,  whose  excel- 
lence it  is  to  be  extravagant,  whose  chief  aim  it  is 
to  do  what  no  one  but  himself  has  tried.  The  tyro  in 
German  may  tell  us  that  the  charm  of  "  Faust "  is 
altogether  unconnected  with  its  preternatural  import; 
that  the  work  delineates  the  fate  of  human  enthusiasm 
struggling  against  doubts  and  errors  from  within,  against 


TRANSLATOR'S    PREFACE  xxi 

skepticism,  contempt,  and  selfishness  from  without ;  and 
that  the  witchcraft  and  magic,  intended  merely  as  a 
shadowy  frame  for  so  complex  and  mysterious  a  picture 
of  the  moral  world  and  the  human  soul,  are  introduced 
for  the  purpose,  not  so  much  of  being  trembled  at  as 
laughed  at.  The  voice  of  the  tyro  is  not  listened  to ; 
our  indolence  takes  part  with  our  ignorance ;  "  Faust " 
continues  to  be  called  a  monster;  and  Goethe  is  re- 
garded as  a  man  of  "  some  genius,"  which  he  has 
perverted  to  produce  all  manner  of  niisfashioned  prodi- 
gies,—  things  false,  abortive,  formless,  Gorgons  and 
hydras,  and  chimeras  dire. 

Now,  it  must  no  doubt  be  granted,  that,  so  long  as 
our  invaluable  constitution  is  preserved  in  its  pristine 
purity,  the  British  nation  may  exist  in  a  state  of  com- 
parative prosperity  with  very  inadequate  ideas  of 
Goethe ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  the  present  arrange- 
ment is  an  evil  in  its  kind,  —  slight,  it  is  true,  and 
easy  to  be  borne,  yet  still  more  easy  to  be  remedied, 
and  which,  therefore,  ought  to  have  been  remedied  ere 
now.  Minds  like  Goethe's  are  the  common  property 
of  all  nations ;  and,  for  many  reasons,  all  should  have 
correct  impressions  of  them. 

It  is  partly  with  the  view  of  doing  something  to 
supply  this  want,  that  "  Wilhelm  Meister's  Lehrjahre  " 
is  now  presented  to  the  English  public.  Written  in 
its  author's  forty-fifth  year,  embracing  hints  or  disqui- 
sitions on  almost  every  leading  point  in  life  and  litera- 
ture, it  affords  us  a  more  distinct  view  of  his  matured 
genius,  his  manner  of  thought,  and  favourite  subjects, 
than  any  of  his  other  works.  Nor  is  it  Goethe  alone 
whom  it  portrays :  the  prevailing  taste  of  Germany  is 
likewise  indicated  by  it.  Since  the  year  1795,  when 
it  first  appeared  at  Berlin,  numerous  editions  of  "  Meis- 
ter "  have  been  printed ;  critics  of  all  ranks,  and  some 
of  them  dissenting  widely  from  its  doctrines,  have 
loaded   it  with  encomiums ;  its  songs  and  poems  are 


xxii  TRANSLATOR'S    PREFACE 

familiar  to  every  German  ear ;  the  people  read  it,  and 
speak  of  it,  with  an  admiration  approaching  in  many 
cases  to  enthusiasm. 

That  it  will  be  equally  successful  in  England,  I  am 
far  indeed  from  anticipating.  Apart  from  the  above 
considerations,  —  from  the  curiosity,  intelligent  or  idle, 
which  it  may  awaken,  —  the  number  of  admuing,  or 
even  approving,  judges  it  will  find  can  scarcely  fail  of 
being  very  hmited.  To  the  great  mass  of  readers,  who 
read  to  drive  away  the  tedium  of  mental  vacancy, 
employing  the  crude  phantasmagoria  of  a  modern 
novel,  as  their  grandfathers  employed  tobacco  and 
diluted  brandy,  "Wilhelm  Meister"  will  appear  be- 
yond endurance  weary,  flat,  stale,  and  unprofitable. 
Those,  in  particular,  who  take  delight  in  "  King  Cam- 
byses'  vein,"  and  open  "  Meister "  with  the  thought 
of  "  Werther  "  in  their  minds,  will  soon  pause  in  utter 
dismay;  and  their  paroxysm  of  dismay  will  pass  by 
degi'ees  into  unspeakable  contempt.  Of  romance  in- 
terest there  is  next  to  none  in  "  Meister ; "  the  charac- 
ters are  samples  to  judge  of,  rather  than  persons  to 
love  or  hate;  the  incidents  are  contrived  for  other 
objects  than  moving  or  affrighting  us;  the  hero  is  a 
milksop,  whom,  with  all  his  gifts,  it  takes  an  effort 
to  avoid  despising.  The  author  himself,  far  from 
"doing  it  in  a  passion,"  wears  a  face  of  the  most 
still  indifference  throughout  the  whole  affair :  often 
it  is  even  wrinkled  by  a  slight  sardonic  grin.  For  the 
friends  of  the  sublime,  then,  —  for  those  who  cannot 
do  without  heroical  sentiments,  and  "  moving  accidents 
by  flood  and  field,"  —  there  is  nothing  here  that  can 
be  of  any  service. 

Nor  among  readers  of  a  far  higher  character,  can 
it  be  expected  that  many  will  take  the  praiseworthy 
pains  of  Germans,  reverential  of  their  favourite  author, 
and  anxious  to  hunt  out  his  most  elusive  charms. 
Few   among   us    will   disturb    themselves    about    the 


translator's    preface  xxiii 

allegories  and  typical  allusions  of  the  work;  will  stop 
to  inquire  whether  it  includes  a  remote  emblem  of 
human  culture,  or  includes  no  such  matter;  whether 
this  is  a  light,  airy  sketch  of  the  development  of  man 
in  all  his  endowments  and  faculties,  gTadually  pro- 
ceeding from  the  first  rude  exhibitions  of  puppets  and 
mountebanks,  through  the  perfection  of  poetic  and 
dramatic  art,  up  to  the  unfolding  of  the  principle  of 
rehgion,  and  the  gi'eatest  of  all  arts,  —  the  art  of  life, 
—  or  is  nothing  more  than  a  bungled  piece  of  patch- 
work, presenting  in  the  shape  of  a  novel  much  that 
should  have  been  suppressed  entirely,  or  at  least  given 
out  by  way  of  lecture.  Whether  the  characters  do  or 
do  not  represent  distinct  classes  of  men,  including 
various  stages  of  human  nature,  from  the  gay,  material 
vivacity  of  Phihna  to  the  severe  moral  gTandeur  of  the 
uncle  and  the  splendid  accomphshment  of  Lothario, 
will  to  most  of  us  be  of  small  importance ;  and  the 
everlasting  disquisitions  about  plays  and  players,  and 
pohteness  and  activity,  and  art  and  nature,  will  weary 
many  a  mind  that  knows  not  and  heeds  not  whether 
they  are  true  or  false.  Yet  every  man's  judgment  is, 
in  this  free  country,  a  lamp  to  himself:  whoever  is 
displeased  will  censure ;  and  many,  it  is  to  be  feared, 
will  insist  on  judging  "  Meister  "  by  the  common  rule, 
and,  what  is  worse,  condemning  it,  let  Schlegel  bawl 
as  loudly  as  he  pleases.  "  To  judge,"  says  he,  "  of  this 
book,  —  new  and  peculiar  as  it  is,  and  only  to  be 
understood  and  learned  from  itself,  by  our  common 
notion  of  the  novel,  a  notion  pieced  together  and  pro- 
duced out  of  custom  and  belief,  out  of  accidental  and 
arbitrary  requisitions,  —  is  as  if  a  child  should  grasp 
at  the  moon  and  stars,  and  insist  on  packing  them 
into  its  toy-box."^  Unhappily  the  most  of  us  have 
boxes,  and  some  of  them  are  very  small. 

'  Charakteristik  des  Meister. 


xxiv  translator's    PREFACE 

Yet,  independently  of  these  its  more  recondite  and 
dubious  qualities,  there  are  beauties  in  "Meister" 
which  cannot  but  secure  it  some  degree  of  favour  at 
the  hands  of  many.  The  philosophical  discussions  it 
contains ;  its  keen  glances  into  hfe  and  art ;  the  minute 
and  skilful  dehneation  of  men ;  the  Hvely,  genuine 
exhibition  of  the  scenes  they  move  in ;  the  occasional 
touches  of  eloquence  and  tenderness,  and  even  of 
poetry,  the  very  essence  of  poetry;  the  quantity  of 
thought  and  knowledge  embodied  in  a  style  so  rich 
in  general  felicities,  of  which,  at  least,  the  new  and 
sometimes  exquisitely  happy  metaphors  have  been  pre- 
served,—  cannot  wholly  escape  an  observing  reader, 
even  on  the  most  cursory  perusal.  To  those  who  have 
formed  for  themselves  a  picture  of  the  world,  who 
have  drawn  out,  from  the  thousand  variable  circum- 
stances of  their  being,  a  philosophy  of  life,  it  will  be 
interesting  and  instructive  to  see  how  man  and  his 
concerns  are  represented  in  the  first  of  European 
minds :  to  those  who  have  penetrated  to  the  limits 
of  their  own  conceptions,  and  wrestled  with  thoughts 
and  feelings  too  high  for  them,  it  will  be  pleasing 
and  profitable  to  see  the  horizon  of  their  certainties 
widened,  or  at  least  separated  with  a  firmer  Hne  from 
the  impalpable  obscure  which  surrounds  it  on  every 
side.  Such  persons  I  can  fearlessly  invite  to  study 
"  Meister."  Across  the  disfigurement  of  a  translation, 
they  will  not  fail  to  discern  indubitable  traces  of  the 
greatest  genius  in  our  times.  And  the  longer  they 
study,  they  are  likely  to  discern  them  the  more  dis- 
tinctly. New  charms  will  successively  arise  to  view ; 
and  of  the  many  apparent  blemishes,  while  a  few 
superficial  ones  may  be  confirmed,  the  gi-eater  and 
more  important  part  will  vanish,  or  even  change  from 
dark  to  bright.  For,  if  I  mistake  not,  it  is  with 
"Meister"  as  with  every  work  of  real  and  abiding 
excellence,  —  the  first  glance  is  the  least   favourable. 


TRANSLATOR'S    PREFACE  xxv 

A  picture  of  Eaphael,  a  Greek  statue,  a  play  of 
Sophocles  or  Shakespeare,  appears  insignificant  to 
the  unpractised  eye;  and  not  till  after  long  and 
patient  and  intense  examination,  do  we  begin  to 
descry  the  earnest  features  of  that  beauty,  which  has 
its  foundation  in  the  deepest  nature  of  man,  and  will 
continue  to  be  pleasing  through  all  ages. 

If  this  appear  excessive  praise,  as  applied  in  any 
sense  to  "Meister,"  the  curious  skeptic  is  desu-ed  to 
read  and  weigh  the  whole  performance,  with  all  its 
references,  relations,  purposes,  and  to  pronounce  his 
verdict  after  he  has  clearly  seized  and  appreciated 
them  all.  Or,  if  a  more  faint  conviction  will  suffice, 
let  him  turn  to  the  picture  of  Wilhelm's  states  of 
mind  in  the  end  of  the  first  book,  and  the  beginning 
of  the  second;  the  eulogies  of  commerce  and  poesy, 
which  follow ;  the  description  of  Hamlet ;  the  char- 
acter of  histrionic  hfe  in  Serlo  and  Aurelia;  that  of 
sedate  and  lofty  manhood  in  the  uncle  and  Lothario. 
But,  above  all,  let  him  turn  to  the  history  of  Mignon. 
This  mysterious  child,  at  first  neglected  by  the  reader, 
gradually  forced  on  his  attention,  at  length  overpowers 
him  with  an  emotion  more  deep  and  thrilling  than  any 
poet  since  the  days  of  Shakespeare  has  succeeded  in 
producing.  The  daughter  of  enthusiasm,  rapture,  pas- 
sion, and  despair,  she  is  of  the  earth,  but  not  earthly. 
When  she  glides  before  us  through  the  light  mazes 
of  her  fairy  dance,  or  twangs  her  cithern  to  the  notes 
of  her  homesick  verses,  or  whirls  her  tambourine  and 
hurries  round  us  like  an  antique  Meenad,  we  could 
almost  fancy  her  a  spirit ;  so  pure  is  she,  so  full  of 
fervour,  so  disengaged  from  the  clay  of  this  world. 
And  when  all  the  fearful  particulars  of  her  story  are 
at  length  laid  together,  and  we  behold  in  connected 
order  the  image  of  her  hapless  existence,  there  is,  in 
those  dim  recollections,  —  those  feelings  so  simple,  so 
impassioned  and  unspeakable,  consuming  the  closely 


xxvi  TRANSLATOR'S    PREFACE 

shrouded,  woe-struck,  yet  ethereal  spirit  of  the  poor 
creature,  —  something  which  searches  into  the  inmost 
recesses  of  the  soul.  It  is  not  tears  which  her  fate 
calls  forth,  but  a  feehug  far  too  deep  for  tears.  The 
very  fire  of  heaven  seems  miserably  quenched  among 
the  obstructions  of  this  earth.  Her  little  heart,  so 
noble  and  so  helpless,  perishes  before  the  smallest  of 
its  many  beauties  is  unfolded ;  and  all  its  loves  and 
thoughts  and  longings  do  but  add  another  pang  to 
death,  and  sink  to  silence  utter  and  eternal.  It  is  as 
if  the  gloomy  porch  of  Dis,  and  his  pale  kingdoms, 
were  realised  and  set  before  us,  and  we  heard  the 
ineffectual  wail  of  infants  reverberating  from  within 
their  prison  walls  for  ever. 


"  Continuo  aiiditte  voces,  vagitus  et  ingens, 
Inf  antumque  auimse  flentes  in  limine  primo : 
Quos  dulcis  vitae  exsortes,  et  ab  ubere  raptos, 
Abstulit  atra  dies,  et  funere  mersit  acerbo." 


The  history  of  Mignon  runs  hke  a  thread  of  gold 
through  the  tissue  of  the  narrative,  connecting  "v\ith 
the  heart  much  that  were  else  addressed  only  to  the 
head.  Philosophy  and  eloquence  might  have  done 
the  rest,  but  this  is  poetry  in  the  highest  meaning 
of  the  word.  It  must  be  for  the  power  of  producing 
such  creations  and  emotions,  that  Goethe  is  by  many 
of  his  countrymen  ranked  at  the  side  of  Homer  and 
Shakespeare,  as  one  of  the  only  three  men  of  genius 
that  have  ever  hved. 

But  my  business  here  is  not  to  judge  of  "  Meister " 
or  its  author,  it  is  only  to  prepare  others  for  judging 
it ;  and  for  this  purpose  the  most  that  I  had  room  to 
say  is  said.  All  I  ask  in  the  name  of  this  illustrious 
foreigner  is,  that  the  court  which  tries  him  be  pure, 
and  the  jury  instructed  in  the  cause ;  that  the  work  be 
not  condemned  for  wanting  what  it  was  not  meant  to 


translator's    preface  xxvii 

have,  and  by  persons  nowise  called  to  pass  sentence 
on  it. 

Eespecting  my  own  humble  share  in  the  adventure, 
it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  anything.  Fidelity  is 
all  the  merit  I  have  aimed  at :  to  convey  the  author's 
sentiments,  as  he  himself  expressed  them;  to  follow 
the  original,  in  all  the  variations  of  its  style,  —  has 
been  my  constant  endeavour.  In  many  points,  both 
literary  and  moral,  I  could  have  wished  devoutly  that 
he  had  not  wiitten  as  he  has  done ;  but  to  alter  any- 
thing was  not  in  my  commission.  The  literary  and 
moral  persuasions  of  a  man  like  Goethe  are  objects  of 
a  rational  curiosity,  and  the  duty  of  a  translator  is 
simple  and  distinct.  Accordingly,  except  a  few  phrases 
and  sentences,  not  in  all  amounting  to  a  page,  which  I 
have  dropped  as  evidently  unfit  for  the  Enghsh  taste, 
I  have  studied  to  present  the  work  exactly  as  it  stands 
in  German.  That  my  success  has  been  indifferent,  I 
already  know  too  well.  In  rendering  the  ideas  of 
Goethe,  often  so  subtle,  so  capriciously  expressive,  the 
meaning  was  not  always  easy  to  seize,  or  to  convey 
with  adequate  effect.  There  were  thin  tints  of  style, 
shades  of  ridicule  or  tenderness  or  solemnity,  resting 
over  large  spaces,  and  so  slight  as  almost  to  be  eva- 
nescent: some  of  these  I  may  have  failed  to  see;  to 
many  of  them  I  could  do  no  justice.  Nor,  even  in 
plainer  matters,  can  I  pride  myself  in  having  always 
imitated  his  colloquial  familiarity  without  falhng 
into  sentences  bald  and  rugged,  into  idioms  harsh 
or  foreign ;  or  in  having  copied  the  flowing  oratory 
of  other  passages,  without  at  times  exaggerating  or 
defacing  the  swelling  cadences  and  phrases  of  my 
original.  But  what  work,  from  the  translating  of  a 
German  novel  to  the  writing  of  an  epic,  was  ever  as 
the  workman  wished  and  meant  it  ?  This  version  of 
"  Meister,"  with  whatever  faults  it  may  have,  I  honestly 
present    to   my  countrymen :    if,  while  it  makes  any 


xxviii  TRANSLATOR'S    PREFACE 

portion  of  them  more  familiar  with  the  richest,  most 
gifted  of  hving  minds,  it  increase  their  knowledge,  or 
even  aflbrd  them  a  transient  amusement,  they  will 
excuse  its  errors,  and  I  shall  be  far  more  than  paid  for 
all  my  labour. 


Book  I. 


Wilhelm    Meister's 
Apprenticeship 


CHAPTEE   I. 

The  play  was  late  in  breaking  up ;  old  Barbara  went 
more  than  once  to  the  window,  and  listened  for  the 
sound  of  carriages.  She  was  waiting  for  Mariana,  her 
pretty  mistress,  who  had  that  night,  in  the  afterpiece, 
been  acting  the  part  of  a  young  officer,  to  the  no  small 
delight  of  the  public.  Barbara's  impatience  was 
gi-eater  than  it  used  to  be,  when  she  had  nothing 
but  a  frugal  supper  to  present :  on  this  occasion 
Mariana  was  to  be  surprised  with  a  packet,  which 
Norberg,  a  young  and  wealthy  merchant,  had  sent  by 
the  post,  to  show  that  in  absence  he  still  thought  of 
his  love. 

As  an  old  servant,  as  confidant,  counsellor,  manager, 
and  housekeeper,  Barbara  assumed  the  privilege  of 
opening  seals ;  and  this  evening  she  had  the  less  been 
able  to  restrain  her  curiosity,  as  the  favour  of  the 
open-handed  gallant  was  more  a  matter  of  anxiety 
with  herself  than  with  her  mistress.  On  breaking  up 
the  packet,  she  had  found,  with  unfeigned  satisfaction, 
that  it  held  a  piece  of  fine  muslin  and  some  ribbons  of 
the  newest  fashion,  for  Mariana ;  with  a  quantity  of 
calico,  two  or  three  neckerchiefs,  and  a  moderate 
rouleau  of  money,  for  herself.  Her  esteem  for  the 
absent  Norberg  was  of  course  unbounded :  she  medi- 
tated only  how  she    might  best  present  him  to  the 

3 


4  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

mind  of  Mariana,  best  bring  to  her  recollection  what 
she  owed  him,  and  what  he  had  a  right  to  expect  from 
her  fidelity  and  thankfulness. 

The  muslin,  with  the  ribbons  half  unrolled,  to  set  it 
off  by  their  colours,  lay  like  a  Christmas  present  on 
the  small  table ;  the  position  of  the  lights  increased 
the  glitter  of  the  gilt ;  all  was  in  order,  when  the  old 
woman  heard  Mariana's  step  on  the  stairs,  and  has- 
tened to  meet  her.  But  what  was  her  disappointment, 
when  the  little  female  officer,  without  deigning  to 
regard  her  caresses,  rushed  past  her  with  unusual 
speed  and  agitation,  threw  her  hat  and  sword  upon 
the  table,  and  walked  hastily  up  and  down,  bestow- 
ing not  a  look  on  the  lights,  or  any  portion  of  the 
apparatus. 

"  What  ails  thee,  my  darling  ? "  exclaimed  the  aston- 
ished Barbara.  "  For  Heaven's  sake,  what  is  the 
matter  ?  Look  here,  my  pretty  child !  See  what  a 
present !  And  who  could  have  sent  it  but  thy  kindest 
of  friends  ?  Norberg  has  given  thee  the  musHn  to 
make  a  nightgown  of ;  he  will  soon  be  here  himself ; 
he  seems  to  be  fonder  and  more  generous  than  ever." 

Barbara  went  to  the  table,  that  she  might  exhibit 
the  memorials  with  which  Norberg  had  likewise 
honoured  her,  when  Mariana,  turning  away  from  the 
presents,  exclaimed  with  vehemence,  "  Off !  off !  Not 
a  word  of  all  this  to-night.  I  have  yielded  to  thee; 
thou  hast  willed  it ;  be  it  so !  Wlien  Norberg  comes, 
I  am  his,  am  thine,  am  any  one's ;  make  of  me  what 
thou  pleasest ;  but  till  then  I  will  be  my  own :  and,  if 
thou  hadst  a  thousand  tongues,  thou  shouldst  never 
talk  me  from  my  purpose.  All,  all  that  is  my  own 
will  I  give  up  to  him  who  loves  me,  whom  I  love. 
No  sour  faces !  I  will  abandon  myself  to  this  affec- 
tion, as  if  it  were  to  last  for  ever." 

The  old  damsel  had  abundance  of  objections  and 
serious  considerations  to  allege :  in  the  progress  of  the 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  5 

dialogue,  she  was  growing  bitter  and  keen,  when 
Mariana  sprang  at  her,  and  seized  her  by  the  breast. 
The  old  damsel  laughed  aloud.  "  I  must  have  a  care," 
she  cried,  "  that  you  don't  get  into  pantaloons  again,  if 
I  mean  to  be  sure  of  my  life.  Come,  doff  you !  The 
girl  will  beg  my  pardon  for  the  foolish  things  the  boy 
is  doing  to  me.  Off  with  the  frock.  Off  with  them  all. 
The  dress  beseems  you  not ;  it  is  dangerous  for  you,  I 
observe ;  the  epaulets  make  you  too  bold." 

Thus  speaking,  she  laid  hands  upon  her  mistress: 
Mariana  pushed  her  off,  exclaiming,  "  Not  so  fast !  I 
expect  a  visit  to-night." 

"  Visit ! "  rejoined  Barbara  :  "  You  surely  do  not 
look  for  Meister,  the  young,  soft-hearted,  callow  mer- 
chant's son  ? " 

"  Just  for  him,"  replied  Mariana. 

"  Generosity  appears  to  be  growing  your  ruling  pas- 
sion," said  the  old  woman  with  a  grin :  "  you  connect 
yourself  with  minors  and  moneyless  people,  as  if  they 
were  the  chosen  of  the  earth.  Doubtless  it  is  charming 
to  be  worshipped  as  a  benefactress." 

"  Jeer  as  thou  pleasest.  I  love  him !  I  love  him  ! 
With  what  rapture  do  I  now,  for  the  first  time,  speak 
the  word !  Tliis  is  the  passion  I  have  mimicked  so 
often,  when  I  knew  not  what  it  meant.  Yes !  I  will 
throw  myself  about  his  neck :  I  will  clasp  him  as  if  I 
could  hold  him  for  ever.  I  will  show  him  all  my  love, 
will  enjoy  all  his  in  its  whole  extent." 

"  Moderate  yourself,"  said  the  old  dame,  coolly, "  mod- 
erate yourself.  A  single  word  will  interrupt  your  rap- 
ture :  Norberg  is  coming !  Coming  in  a  fortnight ! 
Here  is  the  letter  that  arrived  with  the  packet." 

"  And,  though  the  morrow  were  to  rob  me  of  my 
friend,  I  would  conceal  it  from  myself  and  him.  A 
fortnight !  An  age !  Within  a  fortnight,  what  may 
not  happen,  what  may  not  alter  ?  " 

Here  Wilhelm  entered.     We  need  not  say  how  fast 


6  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

she  flew  to  meet  him,  with  what  rapture  he  clasped  the 
red  uniform,  and  pressed  the  beautiful  wearer  of  it  to 
his  bosom.  It  is  not  for  us  to  describe  the  blessedness 
of  two  lovers.  Old  Barbara  went  gi'umbhng  away :  we 
shall  retii-e  with  her,  and  leave  the  happy  two  alone. 


CHAPTER   II. 

When  Wilhelm  saluted  his  mother  next  morning,  she 
informed  him  that  his  father  was  very  greatly  discon- 
tented with  him,  and  meant  to  forbid  him  these  daily 
visits  to  the  playhouse.  "  Though  I  myself  often  go 
with  pleasure  to  the  theatre,"  she  continued,  "  I  could 
almost  detest  it  entirely,  when  I  think  that  our  fireside 
peace  is  broken  by  your  excessive  passion  for  that 
amusement.  Your  father  is  ever  repeating,  '  What  is 
the  use  of  it  ?  How  can  any  one  waste  his  time 
so  { 

"  He  has  told  me  this  already,"  said  Wilhelm,  "  and 
perhaps  I  answered  him  too  hastily ;  but,  for  Heaven's 
sake,  mother,  is  nothing,  then,  of  use  but  what  imme- 
diately puts  money  in  our  purse  ?  but  what  procures 
us  some  property  that  we  can  lay  our  hands  on  ?  Had 
we  not,  for  instance,  room  enough  in  the  old  house  ? 
and  was  it  indispensable  to  build  a  new  one  ?  Does 
not  my  father  every  year  expend  a  large  part  of  his 
profit  in  ornamenting  his  chambers  ?  Are  these  silk 
carpets,  this  English  furniture,  likewise  of  no  use  ? 
Might  we  not  content  ourselves  with  worse  ?  For  my 
own  part,  I  confess,  these  striped  walls,  these  hundred 
times  repeated  flowers  and  knots  and  baskets  and  fig- 
ures, produce  a  really  disagreeable  effect  upon  me.  At 
best,  they  but  remind  me  of  the  front  curtain  of  our 
theatre.  But  what  a  different  thing  it  is  to  sit  and 
look  at  that !  There,  if  you  must  wait  for  awhile,  you 
are  always  sure  that  it  will  rise  at  last,  and  disclose  to 
you  a  thousand  curious  objects  to  entertain,  to  instruct, 
and  to  exalt  you." 

7 


8  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

"  But  you  go  to  excess  with  it,"  said  the  mother. 
"  Your  father  wishes  to  be  entertained  in  the  evenings 
as  well  as  you :  besides,  he  thinks  it  diverts  your 
attention ;  and,  when  he  grows  ill-humoured  on  the 
subject,  it  is  I  that  must  bear  the  blame.  How  often 
have  I  been  upbraided  with  that  miserable  puppet- 
show,  which  I  was  unlucky  enough  to  provide  for  you 
at  Christmas,  twelve  years  ago  !  It  was  the  first  thing 
that  put  these  plays  into  your  head." 

"  Oh,  do  not  blame  the  poor  puppets !  do  not  repent 
of  your  love  and  motherly  care !  It  was  the  only 
happy  hour  I  had  enjoyed  in  the  new  empty  house.  I 
never  can  forget  that  hour ;  I  see  it  still  before  me ; 
I  recollect  how  surprised  I  w^as,  when,  after  we  had 
got  our  customary  presents,  you  made  us  seat  ourselves 
before  the  door  that  leads  to  the  other  room.  The 
door  opened,  but  not,  as  formerly,  to  let  us  pass  and 
repass:  the  entrance  was  occupied  by  an  unexpected 
show.  Within  it  rose  a  porch,  concealed  by  a  myste- 
rious curtain.  All  of  us  were  standing  at  a  distance : 
our  eagerness  to  see  what  glittering  or  jingling  article 
lay  hid  behind  the  half-transparent  veil  was  mounting 
higher  and  higher,  when  you  bade  us  each  sit  down 
upon  his  stool,  and  wait  with  patience. 

"  At  length  all  of  us  were  seated  and  silent :  a 
whistle  gave  the  signal ;  the  curtain  rolled  aloft,  and 
showed  us  the  interior  of  the  temple,  painted  in  deep- 
red  colours.  The  high-priest  Samuel  appeared  with 
Jonathan,  and  their  strange  alternating  voices  seemed 
to  me  the  most  striking  thing  on  earth.  Shortly  after 
entered  Saul,  overwhelmed  with  confusion  at  the  im- 
pertinence of  that  heavy-limbed  warrior,  who  had  defied 
him  and  all  his  people.  But  how  glad  was  I  when  the 
little  dapper  son  of  Jesse,  with  his  crook  and  shep- 
herd's pouch  and  sling,  came  hopping  forth,  and  said, 
'  Dread  king  and  sovereign  lord,  let  no  one's  heart  sink 
down  because  of  this :  if  your  Majesty  will  grant  me 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  9 

leave,  I  will  go  out  to  battle  with  this  blustering 
giant ! '  Here  ended  the  first  act,  leaving  the  specta- 
tors more  curious  than  ever  to  see  what  further  would 
happen ;  each  praying  that  the  music  might  soon  be 
done.  At  last  the  curtain  rose  again.  David  devoted 
the  flesh  of  the  monster  to  the  fowls  of  the  air  and  the 
beasts  of  the  field :  the  Philistine  scorned  and  bullied 
him,  stamped  mightily  with  both  his  feet,  and  at  length 
fell  like  a  mass  of  clay,  affording  a  splendid  termination 
to  the  piece.  And  then  the  virgins  sang,  '  Saul  hath 
slain  his  thousands,  but  David  his  ten  thousands ! ' 
The  giant's  head  was  borne  before  his  little  victor,  who 
received  the  king's  beautiful  daughter  to  wife.  Yet 
withal,  I  remember,  I  was  vexed  at  the  dwarfish  stat- 
ure of  this  lucky  prince ;  for  the  great  Goliath  and  the 
small  David  had  both  been  formed,  according  to  the 
common  notion,  with  a  due  regard  to  their  figures  and 
proportions.  I  pray  you,  mother,  tell  me  what  has  now 
become  of  those  puppets  ?  I  promised  to  show  them 
to  a  friend,  whom  I  was  lately  entertaining  with  a 
history  of  all  this  child's  work." 

"  I  can  easily  conceive,"  said  the  mother,  "  how  these 
things  should  stick  so  firmly  in  your  mind :  I  well 
remember  what  an  interest  you  took  in  them,  —  how 
you  stole  the  little  book  from  me,  and  learned  the 
whole  piece  by  heart.  I  first  noticed  it  one  evening 
when  you  had  made  a  Goliath  and  a  David  of  wax : 
you  set  them  both  to  declaim  against  each  other,  and 
at  length  gave  a  deadly  stab  to  the  giant,  fixing  his 
shapeless  head,  stuck  upon  a  large  pin  with  a  wax 
handle,  in  little  David's  hand.  I  then  felt  such  a 
motherly  contentment  at  your  fine  recitation  and  good 
memory,  that  I  resolved  to  give  you  up  the  whole 
wooden  troop  to  your  own  disposal.  I  did  not  then 
foresee  that  it  would  cause  me  so  many  heavy  hours." 

"  Do  not  repent  of  it,"  said  Wilhelm :  "  this  little 
sport  has  often  made  us  happy."    So  saying,  he  got  the 


lo  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

keys,  made  haste  to  fiud  the  puppets,  and,  for  a  mo- 
ment, was  transported  back  into  those  times  when  they 
almost  seemed  to  him  ahve,  when  he  felt  as  if  he  him- 
self could  give  them  life  by  the  cunning  of  his  voice 
and  the  movements  of  his  hands.  He  took  them  to 
his  room,  and  locked  them  up  with  care. 


CHAPTEK   III. 

If  the  first  love  is  indeed,  as  I  hear  it  everywhere 
maintained  to  be,  the  most  dehcious  feeHng  which  the 
heart  of  man,  before  it  or  after,  can  experience,  then 
our  hero  must  be  reckoned  doubly  happy,  as  permitted 
to  enjoy  the  pleasure  of  this  chosen  period  in  all  its 
fulness.  Few  men  are  so  peculiarly  favoured :  by  far 
the  greater  part  are  led  by  the  feehngs  of  their  youth 
into  nothing  but  a  school  of  hardship,  where,  after  a 
stinted  and  checkered  season  of  enjoyment,  they  are 
at  length  constrained  to  renounce  their  dearest  wishes, 
and  to  learn  for  ever  to  dispense  with  what  once  hov- 
ered before  them  as  the  highest  happiness  of  existence. 

Wilhelm's  passion  for  that  charming  girl  now  soared 
aloft  on  the  wings  of  imagination.  After  a  short 
acquaintance,  he  had  gained  her  affections :  he  found 
himself  in  possession  of  a  being,  whom,  with  all  his 
heart,  he  not  only  loved,  but  honoured ;  for  she  had 
first  appeared  before  him  in  the  flattering  hght  of 
theatric  pomp,  and  his  passion  for  the  stage  combined 
itself  with  his  earliest  love  for  woman.  His  youth 
allowed  him  to  enjoy  rich  pleasures,  which  the  activity 
of  his  fancy  exalted  and  maintained.  The  situation  of 
his  mistress,  too,  gave  a  turn  to  her  conduct  which 
greatly  enlivened  his  emotions.  The  fear  lest  her  lover 
might,  before  the  time,  detect  the  real  state  in  which 
she  stood,  diffused  over  all  her  conduct  an  interesting 
tinge  of  anxiety  and  bashfuluess;  her  attachment  to 
the  youth  was  deep ;  her  very  inquietude  appeared  but 
to  augment  her  tenderness ;  she  was  the  loveHest  of 
creatures  while  beside  him. 

II 


12  meister's  apprenticeship 

When  the  first  tumult  of  joy  had  passed,  and  our 
friend  began  to  look  back  upon  his  life  and  its  con- 
cerns, everything  appeared  new  to  him :  his  duties 
seemed  holier,  his  inchnations  keener,  his  knowledge 
clearer,  his  talents  stronger,  his  purposes  more  decided. 
Accordingly,  he  soon  fell  upon  a  plan  to  avoid  the 
reproaches  of  his  father,  to  still  the  cares  of  his  mother, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  to  enjoy  Mariana's  love  without 
disturbance.  Through  the  day  he  punctually  tran- 
sacted his  business,  commonly  forbore  attending  the 
theatre,  strove  to  be  entertaining  at  table  in  the  even- 
ing ;  and,  when  all  were  asleep,  he  glided  softly  out 
into  the  garden,  and  hastened,  wrapped  up  in  his 
mantle,  with  all  the  feelings  of  Leander  in  his  bosom, 
to  meet  his  mistress  without  delay. 

"  What  ig  this  you  bring  ? "  inquired  Mariana,  as  he 
entered  one  evening,  with  a  bundle,  which  Barbara,  in 
hopes  it  might  turn  out  to  be  some  valuable  present, 
fixed  her  eyes  upon  with  great  attention.  "  You  will 
never  guess,"  said  Wilhelm. 

Great  was  the  surprise  of  Mariana,  gi'eat  the  scorn 
of  Barbara,  when  the  napkin,  being  loosened,  gave  to 
view  a  perplexed  multitude  of  span-long  puppets. 
Mariana  laughed  aloud,  as  Wilhelm  set  himself  to 
disentangle  the  confusion  of  the  wires,  and  show  her 
each  figure  by  itself.  Barbara  glided  sulkily  out  of 
the  room. 

A  very  little  thing  will  entertain  two  lovers;  and 
accordingly  our  friends,  this  evening,  were  as  happy  as 
they  wished  to  be.  The  little  troop  was  mustered : 
each  figure  was  minutely  examined,  and  laughed  at,  in 
its  turn.  King  Saul,  with  his  golden  crown  and  his 
black  velvet  robe,  Mariana  did  not  like:  he  looked, 
she  said,  too  stiff  and  pedantic.  She  was  far  better 
pleased  with  Jonathan,  his  sleek  chin,  his  turban,  his 
cloak  of  red  and  yellow.  She  soon  got  the  art  of  turn- 
ing him  deftly  on  his  wire :  she  made  him  bow,  and 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  13 

repeat  declarations  of  love.  On  the  other  hand,  she 
refused  to  give  the  least  attention  to  the  prophet  Sam- 
uel ;  though  Wilhelm  commended  the  pontifical  breast- 
plate, and  told  her  that  the  taffeta  of  the  cassock  had 
been  taken  from  a  gown  of  his  own  grandmother's. 
David  she  thought  too  small;  Goliath  was  too  big; 
she  held  by  Jonathan.  She  grew  to  manage  him  so 
featly,  and  at  last  to  extend  her  caresses  from  the 
puppet  to  its  owner,  that,  on  this  occasion,  as  on 
others,  a  silly  sport  became  the  introduction  to  happy 
hours. 

Their  soft,  sweet  dreams  were  broken  in  upon  by  a 
noise  which  arose  on  the  street.  Mariana  called  for 
the  old  dame,  who,  as  usual,  was  occupied  in  furbish- 
ing the  changeful  materials  of  the  playhouse  wardrobe 
for  the  service  of  the  play  next  to  be  acted.  Barbara 
said  the  disturbance  arose  from  a  set  of  jolly  compan- 
ions, who  were  just  then  sallying  out  of  the  Italian 
tavern  hard  by,  where  they  had  been  busy  discussing 
fresh  oysters,  a  cargo  of  which  had  just  arrived,  and 
by  no  means  sparing  their  champagne. 

"  Pity,"  Mariana  said,  "  that  we  did  not  think  of  it 
in  time :  we  might  have  had  some  entertainment  to 
ourselves." 

"  It  is  not  yet  too  late,"  said  Wilhelm,  giving  Bar- 
bara a  louis-d'or :  "  get  us  what  we  want,  then  come 
and  take  a  share  with  us." 

The  old  dame  made  speedy  work ;  ere  long  a  trimly 
covered  table,  with  a  neat  collation,  stood  before  the 
lovers.  They  made  Barbara  sit  with  them ;  they  ate 
and  drank,  and  enjoyed  themselves. 

On  such  occasions,  there  is  never  want  of  enough  to 
say.  Mariana  soon  took  up  little  Jonathan  again,  and 
the  old  dame  turned  the  conversation  upon  Wilhelm's 
favourite  topic.  "  You  were  once  telling  us,"  she  said, 
"  about  the  first  exhibition  of  a  puppet-show  on  Christ- 
mas Eve :  I  remember  you  were  interrupted  just  as  the 


14  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

ballet  was  going  to  begin.  We  have  now  the  pleasure 
of  a  personal  acquaintance  with  the  honourable  com- 
pany by  whom  those  wonderful  effects  were  brought 
about." 

"  Oh,  yes ! "  cried  Mariana :  "  do  tell  us  how  it  all 
went  on,  and  how  you  felt  then." 

"  It  is  a  fine  emotion,  Mariana,"  said  the  youth, 
"  when  we  bethink  ourselves  of  old  times,  and  old, 
harmless  errors,  especially  if  this  is  at  a  period  when 
we  have  happily  gained  some  elevation,  from  which  we 
can  look  around  us,  and  survey  the  path  we  have  left 
behind.  It  is  so  pleasant  to  think,  with  composure  and 
satisfaction,  of  many  obstacles,  which  often  with  pain- 
ful feehngs  we  may  have  regarded  as  invincible, — 
pleasant  to  compare  what  we  now  are  with  what  we 
then  were  strugghng  to  become.  But  I  am  happy 
above  others  in  this  matter,  that  I  speak  to  you  about 
the  past,  at  a  moment  when  I  can  also  look  forth  into 
the  blooming  country,  which  we  are  yet  to  wander 
through  together,  hand  in  hand." 

"  But  how  was  it  with  the  ballet  ? "  said  Barbara. 
"  I  fear  it  did  not  quite  go  off  as  it  should  have  done." 

"  I  assure  you,"  said  Wilhelm, "  it  went  off  quite  well. 
And  certainly  the  strange  caperings  of  these  Moors  and 
Mooresses,  these  shepherds  and  shepherdesses,  these 
dwarfs  and  dwarfesses,  will  never  altogether  leave  my 
recollection  while  I  live.  When  the  curtain  dropped, 
and  the  door  closed,  our  little  party  skipped  away, 
frolicking  as  if  they  had  been  tipsy,  to  their  beds.  For 
myself,  however,  I  remember  that  I  could  not  go  to 
sleep :  still  wanting  to  have  something  told  me  on  the 
subject,  I  continued  putting  questions  to  every  one, 
and  would  hardly  let  the  maid  away  who  had  brought 
me  up  to  bed. 

"  Next  morning,  alas  !  the  magic  apparatus  had  alto- 
gether vanished ;  the  mysterious  veil  was  carried  off ; 
the  door  permitted  us  again  to  go  and  come  through  it 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  15 

without  obstruction ;  the  manifold  adventures  of  the 
evening  had  passed  away,  and  left  no  trace  behind. 
My  brothers  and  sisters  were  running  up  and  down 
with  their  playthings ;  I  alone  kept  ghding  to  and  fro ; 
it  seemed  to  me  impossible  that  •  two  bare  door-posts 
could  be  all  that  now  remained,  where  the  night  before 
so  much  enchantment  had  been  displayed.  Alas !  the 
man  that  seeks  a  lost  love  can  hardly  be  unhappier 
than  I  then  thought  myself." 

A  rapturous  look,  which  he  cast  on  Mariana,  con- 
vinced her  that  he  was  not  afraid  of  such  ever  being 
his  case. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

"  My  sole  wish  now,"  continued  Wilkelm,  "  was  to 
witness  a  second  exhibition  of  the  play.  For  this  pur- 
pose I  had  recourse,  by  constant  entreaties,  to  my 
mother ;  and  she  attempted  in  a  favourable  hour  to 
persuade  my  father.  Her  labour,  however,  was  in  vain. 
My  father's  principle  was,  that  none  but  enjoyments 
of  rare  occurrence  were  adequately  prized  ;  that  neither 
young  nor  old  could  set  a  proper  value  on  pleasures 
which  they  tasted  every  day. 

"  We  might  have  waited  long,  perhaps  till  Christmas 
returned,  had  not  the  contriver  and  secret  director  of 
the  spectacle  himself  felt  a  pleasure  in  repeating  the 
display  of  it,  partly  incited,  I  suppose,  by  the  wish  to 
produce  a  brand  new  harlequin  expressly  prepared  for 
the  afterpiece. 

"  A  young  officer  of  the  artillery,  a  person  of  great 
gifts  in  all  sorts  of  mechanical  contrivance,  had  served 
my  father  in  many  essential  particulars  during  the 
building  of  the  house ;  for  which,  having  been  hand- 
somely rewarded,  he  felt  desirous  of  expressing  his 
thankfulness  to  the  family  of  his  patron,  and  so  made 
us  young  ones  a  present  of  this  complete  theatre,  which, 
in  hours  of  leisure,  he  had  already  carved  and  painted, 
and  strung  together.  It  was  this  young  man,  who, 
with  the  help  of  a  servant,  had  himself  managed  the 
puppets,  disguising  his  voice  to  pronounce  their  various 
speeches.  He  had  no  great  difficulty  in  persuading  my 
father,  who  granted,  out  of  complaisance  to  a  friend, 
what  he  had  denied  from  conviction  to  his  children. 
In  short,  our  theatre  was  again  set  up,  some  little  ones 

i6 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  17 

of  the  neighbourhood  were  invited,  and  the  play  was 
again  represented. 

"  If  I  had  formerly  experienced  the  delights  of  sur- 
prise and  astonishment,  I  enjoyed  on  this  second  occa- 
sion the  pleasure  of  examining  and  scrutinising.  How 
all  this  happened  was  my  present  concern.  That  the 
puppets  themselves  did  not  speak,  I  had  already 
decided ;  that  of  themselves  they  did  not  move,  I  also 
conjectured  ;  but,  then,  how  came  it  all  to  be  so  pretty, 
and  to  look  just  as  if  they  both  spoke  and  moved  of 
themselves  ?  and  where  were  the  lights,  and  the  people 
that  managed  the  deception  ?  These  enigmas  perplexed 
me  the  more,  as  I  wished  to  be  at  the  same  time  among 
the  enchanters  and  the  enchanted,  at  the  same  time  to 
have  a  secret  hand  in  the  play,  and  to  enjoy,  as  a 
looker-on,  the  pleasure  of  illusion. 

"  The  play  being  finished,  preparations  were  making 
for  the  farce :  the  spectators  had  risen,  and  were  all 
busy  talking  together,  I  squeezed  myself  closer  to  the 
door,  and  heard,  by  the  rattling  within,  that  the  people 
were  packing  up  some  articles.  I  lifted  the  lowest 
screen,  and  poked  in  my  head  between  the  posts.  As 
our  mother  noticed  it,  she  drew  me  back :  but  I  had 
seen  well  enough  that  here  friends  and  foes,  Saul  and 
Goliath,  and  whatever  else  their  names  might  be,  were 
lying  quietly  down  together  in  a  drawer ;  and  thus  my 
half-contented  curiosity  received  a  fresh  excitement. 
To  my  great  surprise,  moreover,  I  had  noticed  the  lieu- 
tenant very  diligently  occupied  in  the  interior  of  the 
shrine.  Henceforth,  Jack-pudding,  however  he  might 
clatter  with  his  heels,  could  not  any  longer  entertain 
me.  I  sank  into  deep  meditation :  my  discovery  made 
me  both  more  satisfied,  and  less  so,  than  before.  After 
a  little,  it  first  struck  me  that  I  yet  comprehended 
nothing :  and  here  I  was  right ;  for  the  connection  of 
the  parts  with  each  other  was  entirely  unknown  to  me, 
and  everything  depends  on  that." 


CHAPTEE   V. 

"  In  well  adjusted  and  regulated  houses,"  continued 
Wilhelm,  "  children  have  a  feeling  not  unlike  what  I 
conceive  rats  and  mice  to  have  :  they  keep  a  sharp  eye 
on  all  crevices  and  holes,  where  they  may  come  at  any 
forbidden  dainty ;  they  enjoy  it  also  with  a  fearful, 
stolen  satisfaction,  which  forms  no  small  part  of  the 
happiness  of  childhood. 

"  More  than  any  other  of  the  young  ones,  I  was  in 
the  habit  of  looking  out  attentively,  to  see  if  I  could 
notice  any  cupboard  left  open,  or  key  standing  in  its 
lock.  The  more  reverence  I  bore  in  my  heart  for  those 
closed  doors,  on  the  outside  of  which  I  had  to  pass  by 
for  weeks  and  months,  catching  only  a  furtive  glance 
when  our  mother  now  and  then  opened  the  consecrated 
place  to  take  something  from  it,  the  quicker  was  I  to 
make  use  of  any  opportunities  which  the  forgetfulness 
of  our  housekeepers  at  times  afforded  me. 

"  Among  all  the  doors,  that  of  the  storeroom  was,  of 
course,  the  one  I  watched  most  narrowly.  Few  of  the 
joyful  anticipations  in  life  can  equal  the  feeling  which 
I  used  to  have  when  my  mother  happened  to  call  me, 
that  I  might  help  her  to  carry  out  something,  where- 
upon I  might  pick  up  a  few  dried  plums,  either  with 
her  kind  permission,  or  by  help  of  my  own  dexterity. 
The  accumulated  treasures  of  this  chamber  took  hold 
of  my  imagination  by  their  magnitude:  the  very  fra- 
grance exhaled  by  so  multifarious  a  collection  of  sweet- 
smelling  spices  produced  such  a  craving  effect  on  me, 
that  I  never  failed,  when  passing  near,  to  linger  for  a 
little,  and  regale  myself  at  least  on  the  unbolted  atmos- 

18 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  19 

phere.  At  length,  one  Sunday  morning,  my  mother, 
being  hurried  by  the  ringing  of  the  church-bells,  forgot 
to  take  this  precious  key  with  her  on  shutting  the 
door,  and  went  away,  leaving  all  the  house  in  a  deep 
Sabbath  stillness.  No  sooner  had  I  marked  this  over- 
sight than,  ghding  softly  once  or  twice  to  and  from  the 
place,  I  at  last  approached  very  gingerly,  opened  the 
door,  and  felt  myself,  after  a  single  step,  in  immediate 
contact  with  these  manifold  and  loug-wished-for  means 
of  happiness.  I  glanced  over  glasses,  chests,  and  bags, 
and  drawers  and  boxes,  with  a  quick  and  doubtful  eye, 
considering  what  I  ought  to  choose  and  take ;  turned 
finally  to  my  dear  withered  plums,  provided  myself 
also  with  a  few  dried  apples,  and  completed  the  forage 
with  an  orange-chip.  I  was  quietly  retreating  with 
my  plunder,  when  some  little  chests,  lying  piled  over 
one  another,  caught  my  attention,  —  the  more  so  as  I 
noticed  a  wire,  with  hooks  at  the  end  of  it,  sticking 
through  the  joint  of  the  lid  in  one  of  them.  Full  of 
eager  hopes,  I  opened  this  singular  package  ;  and  judge 
of  my  emotions,  when  I  found  my  glad  world  of  heroes 
all  sleeping  safe  within !  I  meant  to  pick  out  the  top- 
most, and,  having  examined  them,  to  pull  up  those 
below ;  but  in  this  attempt  the  wires  got  very  soon 
entangled :  and  I  fell  into  a  fright  and  flutter,  more 
particularly  as  the  cook  just  then  began  making  some 
stir  in  the  kitchen,  which  was  close  by ;  so  that  I  had 
nothing  for  it  but  to  squeeze  the  whole  together  the 
best  way  I  could,  and  to  shut  the  chest,  having  stolen 
from  it  nothing  but  a  little  written  book,  which  hap- 
pened to  be  lying  above,  and  contained  the  whole 
drama  of  Goliath  and  David.  With  this  booty  I  made 
good  my  retreat  into  the  garret. 

"  Henceforth  all  my  stolen  hours  of  solitude  were 
devoted  to  perusing  the  play,  to  learning  it  by  heart, 
and  picturing  in  thought  how  glorious  it  would  be, 
could  I  but  get  the  figures,  to  make  them  move  along 


20  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

with  it.  In  idea  I  myself  became  David  and  Goliath 
by  turns.  In  every  corner  of  the  courtyard,  of  the 
stables,  of  the  garden,  under  all  kinds  of  circumstances, 
I  laboured  to  stamp  the  whole  piece  upon  my  mind ; 
laid  hold  of  all  the  characters,  and  learned  their 
speeches  by  heart,  most  commonly,  however,  taking 
up  the  parts  of  the  chief  personages,  and  allowing 
all  the  rest  to  move  along  with  them,  but  as  satel- 
htes,  across  my  memory.  Thus  day  and  night  the 
heroic  words  of  David,  wherewith  he  challenged  the 
braggart  giant,  Goliath  of  Gath,  kept  their  place  in 
my  thoughts.  I  often  muttered  them  to  myself  ; 
while  no  one  gave  heed  to  me,  except  my  father, 
who,  frequently  observing  some  such  detached  ex- 
clamation, would  in  secret  praise  the  excellent  memory 
of  his  boy,  that  had  retained  so  much  from  only  two 
recitations. 

"  By  this  means  growing  bolder  and  bolder,  I  one 
evening  repeated  almost  the  entire  piece  before  my 
mother,  whilst  I  was  busied  in  fashioning  some  bits  of 
wax  into  players.  She  observed  it,  questioned  me  hard ; 
and  I  confessed. 

"  By  good  fortune,  this  detection  happened  at  a  time 
when  the  lieutenant  had  himself  been  expressing  a 
wish  to  initiate  me  in  the  mysteries  of  the  art.  My 
mother  forthwith  gave  him  notice  of  these  unexpected 
talents;  and  he  now  contrived  to  make  my  parents 
offer  him  a  couple  of  chambers  in  the  top  story,  which 
commonly  stood  empty,  that  he  might  accommodate  the 
spectators  in  the  one,  while  the  other  held  his  actors, 
the  proscenium  again  filling  up  the  opening  of  the 
door :  my  father  had  allowed  his  friend  to  arrange  all 
this ;  himself,  in  the  meantime,  seeming  only  to  look 
at  the  transaction,  as  it  were,  through  his  fingers ;  for 
his  maxim  was,  that  children  should  not  be  allowed  to 
see  the  kindness  which  is  felt  toward  them,  lest  their 
pretensions  come  to  extend  too  far.     He  was  of  opinion, 


MEISTER'S   APPRENTICESHIP  21 

that,  in  the  enjoyments  of  the  young,  one  should  as- 
sume a  serious  air  ;  often  interrupting  the  course  of 
their  festivities,  to  prevent  their  satisfaction  from  de- 
generating into  excess  and  presumption." 


CHAPTER   VI. 

"  The  lieutenant  now  set  up  his  theatre,  and  man- 
aged all  the  rest.  During  the  week  I  readily  observed 
that  he  often  came  into  the  house  at  unusual  hours, 
and  I  soon  guessed  the  cause.  My  eagerness  increased 
immensely;  for  I  well  understood,  that,  till  Sunday 
evening,  I  could  have  no  share  in  what  was  going  on. 
At  last  the  wished-for  day  arrived.  At  five  in  the 
evening  my  conductor  came,  and  took  me  up  with  him. 
Quivering  with  joy,  I  entered,  and  descried,  on  both 
sides  of  the  framework,  the  puppets  all  hanging  in 
order  as  they  were  to  advance  to  view.  I  considered 
them  narrowly,  and  mounted  on  the  steps,  which 
raised  them  above  the  scene,  and  allowed  me  to  hover 
aloft  over  all  that  little  world.  Not  without  reverence 
did  I  look  down  between  the  pieces  of  board,  and 
recollect  what  a  glorious  effect  the  whole  would  pro- 
duce, and  feel  into  what  mighty  secrets  I  was  now 
admitted.     We  made  a  trial,  which  succeeded  well. 

"  jSText  day  a  party  of  children  were  invited :  we 
performed  rarely ;  except  that  once,  in  the  fire  of  action, 
I  let  poor  Jonathan  fall,  and  was  obliged  to  reach  down 
with  my  hand,  and  pick  him  up,  —  an  accident  which 
sadly  marred  the  illusion,  produced  a  peal  of  laughter, 
and  vexed  me  unspeakably.  My  father,  however, 
seemed  to  relish  this  misfortune  not  a  little.  Pru- 
dently shrouding  up  the  contentment  he  felt  at  the 
expertness  of  his  little  boy,  after  the  play  was  finished, 
he  dwelt  on  the  mistakes  we  had  committed,  saying  it 
would  all  have  been  very  pretty  had  not  this  or  that 
gone  wrong  with  us. 


<<  f 


ant  h 


"  '  /  look  down  between  the  pieces  of  board '  '* 

Photogravure  after  the  drawing  by  W.  Friedrich 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  23 

"  I  was  vexed  to  the  heart  at  these  things,  and  sad 
for  all  the  evening.  By  next  morning,  however,  I  had 
quite  slept  off  my  sorrow,  and  was  blessed  in  the  per- 
suasion, that,  but  for  this  one  fault,  I  had  acted  delight- 
fully. The  spectators  also  flattered  me  with  their 
unanimous  approval :  they  all  maintained,  that  though 
the  lieutenant,  in  regard  to  the  coarse  and  the  fine 
voices,  had  done  gi-eat  things,  yet  his  declamation  was 
in  general  too  stiff  and  affected ;  whereas  the  new  as- 
pirant spoke  his  Jonathan  and  David  with  exquisite 
grace.  My  mother  in  particular  commended  the  gal- 
lant tone  in  which  I  had  challenged  Goliath,  and  acted 
the  modest  victor  before  the  king. 

"  From  this  time,  to  my  extreme  delight,  the  theatre 
continued  open ;  and  as  the  spring  advanced,  so  that 
fires  could  be  dispensed  with,  I  passed  all  my  hours  of 
recreation  lying  in  the  garret,  and  making  the  puppets 
caper  and  play  together.  Often  I  invited  up  my  com- 
rades, or  my  brothers  and  sisters ;  but,  when  they 
would  not  come,  I  stayed  by  myself  not  the  less.  My 
imagination  brooded  over  that  tiny  world,  which  soon 
afterward  acquired  another  form. 

"  Scarcely  had  I  once  or  twice  exhibited  the  first 
play,  for  which  my  scenery  and  actors  had  been  formed 
and  decorated,  when  it  ceased  to  give  me  any  pleasure. 
On  the  other  hand,  among  some  of  my  grandfather's 
books,  I  had  happened  to  fall  in  with  '  The  German 
Theatre,'  and  a  few  translations  of  Italian  operas;  in 
which  works  I  soon  got  very  deeply  immersed,  on  each 
occasion  first  reckoning  up  the  characters,  and  then, 
without  further  ceremony,  proceeding  to  exhibit  the 
play.  King  Saul,  with  his  black  velvet  cloak,  was 
therefore  now  obliged  to  personate  Darius  or  Cato,  or 
some  other  pagan  hero  ;  in  which  cases,  it  may  be  ob- 
served, the  plays  were  never  wholly  represented, — 
for  most  part,  only  the  fifth  acts,  where  the  cutting 
and  stabbing  lay. 


24  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

"  It  was  natural  that  the  operas,  with  their  manifold 
adventures  and  vicissitudes,  should  attract  me  more 
than  anything  beside.  In  these  compositions  I  found 
stormy  seas,  gods  descending  in  chariots  of  cloud,  and, 
what  most  of  all  delighted  me,  abundance  of  thunder 
and  lightning.  I  did  my  best  with  pasteboard,  paint, 
and  paper :  I  could  make  night  very  prettily ;  my 
Lightning  was  fearful  to  behold ;  only  my  thunder  did 
not  always  prosper,  which,  however,  was  of  less  im- 
portance. In  operas,  moreover,  I  found  frequent  op- 
portunities of  introducing  my  David  and  Goliath,  — 
persons  w^hom  the  regular  drama  would  hardly  admit. 
Daily  I  felt  more  attachment  for  the  hampered  spot 
where  I  enjoyed  so  many  pleasures ;  and,  I  must  con- 
fess, the  fragrance  which  the  puppets  had  acquired 
from  the  storeroom  added  not  a  little  to  my  satisfac- 
tion. 

"  The  decorations  of  my  theatre  were  now  in  a  toler- 
able state  of  completeness.  I  had  alw^ays  had  the 
knack  of  drawing  with  compasses,  and  clipping  paste- 
board, and  colouring  figures ;  and  here  it  served  me  in 
good  stead.  But  the  more  sorry  was  I,  on  the  other 
hand,  when,  as  frequently  happened,  my  stock  of 
actors  would  not  suffice  for  representing  great  aff'au-s. 

"  My  sisters,  dressing  and  undressing  their  dolls, 
awoke  in  me  the  project  of  furnishing  my  heroes  by 
and  by  with  garments  which  might  also  be  put  off  and 
on.  Accordingly,  I  slit  the  scraps  of  cloth  from  off 
their  bodies,  tacked  the  fragments  together  as  well  as 
possible,  saved  a  particle  of  money  to  buy  new  ribbons 
and  lace,  begged  many  a  rag  of  taffeta,  and  so  formed, 
by  degrees,  a  full  theatrical  wardrobe,  in  which  hoop- 
petticoats  for  the  ladies  were  especially  remembered. 

"  My  troop  was  now  fairly  provided  with  dresses  for 
the  most  important  play,  and  you  might  have  expected 
that,  henceforth,  one  exhibition  would  follow  close 
upon  the  heels  of  another ;  but  it  happened  with  me, 


meister's  apprenticeship  25 

as  it  often  happens  with  children,  —  they  embrace  wide 
plans,  make  mighty  preparations,  then  a  few  trials,  and 
the  whole  undertaking  is  abandoned.  I  was  guilty  of 
this  fault.  My  greatest  pleasure  lay  in  the  inventive 
part,  and  the  employment  of  my  fancy.  This  or  that 
piece  inspired  me  with  interest  for  a  few  scenes  of  it, 
and  immediately  I  set  about  providing  new  apparel 
suitable  for  the  occasion.  In  such  fluctuating  opera- 
tions, many  parts  of  the  primary  dresses  of  my  heroes 
had  fallen  into  disorder,  or  totally  gone  out  of  sight ;  so 
that  now  the  first  great  play  could  no  longer  be  exhibited. 
I  surrendered  myself  to  my  imagination ;  I  rehearsed 
and  prepared  for  ever;  built  a  thousand  castles  in  the 
air,  and  failed  to  see  that  I  was  at  the  same  time 
undermining  the  foundations  of  these  little  edifices." 

During  this  recital,  Mariana  had  called  up  and  put 
in  action  all  her  courtesy  for  Wilhelm,  that  she  might 
conceal  her  sleepiness.  Diverting  as  the  matter  seemed 
on  one  side,  it  was  too  simple  for  her  taste,  and  her 
lover's  view  of  it  too  serious.  She  softly  pressed  her 
foot  on  his,  however,  and  gave  him  all  visible  signs 
of  attention  and  approval.  She  drank  out  of  his  glass : 
Wilhelm  was  convinced  that  no  word  of  his  history 
had  fallen  to  the  ground.  After  a  short  pause,  he  said  : 
"  It  is  now  your  turn,  Mariana,  to  tell  me  what  were 
your  first  childish  joys.  Till  now  we  have  always 
iDeen  too  busy  with  the  present  to  trouble  ourselves,  on 
either  side,  about  our  previous  way  of  life.  Let  me 
hear,  Mariana,  under  what  circumstances  you  were 
reared :  what  are  the  first  lively  impressions  which  you 
still  remember  ? " 

These  questions  would  have  very  much  embarrassed 
Mariana,  had  not  Barbara  made  haste  to  help  her. 
"  Think  you,"  said  the  cunning  old  woman,  "  we  have 
been  so  mindful  of  what  happened  to  us  long  ago, 
that  we  have  merry  things  like  these  to  talk  about, 


26  MEISTER'S  APPRENTICESHIP 

and,  though  we  had,  that  we  could  give  them  such 
an  air  in  talking  of  them  ?  " 

"  As  if  they  needed  it ! "  cried  Wilhelm.  "  I  love 
this  soft,  good,  amiable  creature  so  much,  that  I  regret 
every  instant  of  my  life  which  has  not  been  spent 
beside  her.  Allow  me,  at  least  in  fancy,  to  have  a 
share  in  thy  bygone  Hfe ;  tell  me  everything ;  I  will 
tell  everything  to  thee !  If  possible,  we  will  deceive 
ourselves,  and  win  back  those  days  that  have  been  lost 
to  love." 

"If  you  require  it  so  eagerly,"  replied  the  old  dame, 
"  we  can  easily  content  you.  Only,  in  the  first  place, 
let  us  hear  how  your  taste  for  the  theatre  gradually 
reached  a  head ;  how  you  practised,  how  you  improved 
so  happily,  that  now  you  can  pass  for  a  superior  actor. 
No  doubt  you  mu,st  have  met  with  droll  adventures  in 
your  progress.  It  is  not  worth  while  to  go  to  bed 
now :  I  have  still  one  flask  in  reserve ;  and  who  knows 
whether  we  shall  soon  all  sit  together  so  quiet  and 
cheery  again?" 

Mariana  cast  upon  her  a  mournful  look,  not  noticed 
by  Wilhelm,  who  proceeded  with  his  narrative. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

"  The  recreations  of  youth,  as  my  companions  began 
to  increase  in  number,  interfered  with  this  solitary,  still 
enjoyment.  I  was  by  turns  a  hunter,  a  soldier,  a 
knight,  as  our  games  required ;  and  constantly  I  had 
this  small  advantage  above  the  rest,  that  I  was  quali- 
fied to  furnish  them  suitably  with  the  necessary  equip- 
ments. The  swords,  for  example,  were  generally  of 
my  manufacture ;  I  gilded  and  decorated  the  scab- 
bards ;  and  a  secret  instinct  allowed  me  not  to  stop  till 
our  militia  was  accoutred  according  to  the  antique 
model.  Helmets,  with  plumes  of  paper,  were  got 
ready ;  shields,  even  coats  of  mail,  were  provided ; 
undertakings  in  which  such  of  the  servants  as  had 
aught  of  the  tailor  in  them,  and  the  seamstresses  of  the 
house,  broke  many  a  needle. 

"  A  part  of  my  comrades  I  had  now  got  well 
equipped ;  by  degrees,  the  rest  w^ere  likewise  furbished 
up,  though  on  a  thriftier  plan ;  and  so  a  very  seemly 
corps  at  length  was  mustered.  We  marched  about  the 
courtyards  and  gardens,  smote  fearfully  upon  each 
other's  shields  and  heads:  many  flaws  of  discord  rose 
among  us,  but  none  that  lasted. 

"  This  diversion  greatly  entertained  my  fellows ;  but 
scarcely  had  it  been  twice  or  thrice  repeated,  when 
it  ceased  to  content  me.  The  aspect  of  so  many 
harnessed  figures  naturally  stimulated  in  my  mind 
those  ideas  of  chivalry,  which  for  some  time,  since  I 
had  commenced  the  reading  of  old  romances,  were  fill- 
ing my  imagination. 

"  Koppen's  translation  of  '  Jerusalem  Delivered  '  at 

27 


28  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

length  fell  into  my  hands,  and  gave  these  wandering 
thoughts  a  settled  direction.  The  whole  poem,  it  is 
true,  I  could  not  read;  but  there  were  passages  which 
I  learned  by  heart,  and  the  images  expressed  in  these 
hovered  round  me.  Particularly  was  I  captivated  with 
Clorinda,  and  all  her  deeds  and  bearing.  The  mascu- 
line womanhood,  the  peaceful  completeness  of  her 
being,  had  a  greater  influence  upon  my  mind,  just 
beginning  to  unfold  itself,  than  the  factitious  charms 
of  Armida ;  though  the  garden  of  that  enchantress  was 
by  no  means  an  object  of  my  contempt. 

"  But  a  hundred  and  a  hundred  times,  while  walking 
in  the  evenings  on  the  balcony  which  stretches  along 
the  front  of  the  house,  and  looking  over  the  neigh- 
bourhood, as  the  quivering  splendour  streamed  up 
at  the  horizon  from  the  departed  sun,  and  the  stars 
came  forth,  and  night  pressed  forward  from  every 
cleft  and  hollow,  and  the  small,  shrill  tone  of  the 
cricket  tinkled  through  the  solemn  stillness,  —  a 
hundred  and  a  hundred  times  have  I  repeated  to  my- 
self the  history  of  the  mournful  duel  between  Tancred 
and  Clorinda. 

"  However  strongly  I  inchned  by  nature  to  the  party 
of  the  Christians,  I  could  not  help  declaring  for  the 
Paynim  heroine  with  all  my  heart  when  she  engaged 
to  set  on  fire  the  great  tower  of  the  besiegers.  And 
when  Tancred,  in  the  darkness,  met  the  supposed 
knight,  and  the  strife  began  between  them  under  that 
veil  of  gloom,  and  the  two  battled  fiercely,  I  could 
never  pronounce  the  words,  — 

"  '  But  now  the  sure  and  fated  hour  is  nigh  : 
Cloi'inda's  course  is  ended,  —  she  must  die  ; '  — 

without  tears  rushing  into  my  eyes,  which  flowed  plen- 
tifully when  the  hapless  lover,  plunging  his  sword  into 
her  breast,  opened  the  departing  warrior's  helmet,  rec- 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  29 

ognised  the  lady  of  his  heart,  and,  shuddering,  brought 
water  to  baptise  her. 

"How  my  heart  ran  over  when  Tancred  struck  with 
his  sword  that  tree  in  the  enchanted  wood ;  when 
blood  flowed  from  the  gash,  and  a  voice  sounded  in  his 
ears,  that  now  again  he  was  wounding  Clorinda ;  that 
Destiny  had  marked  him  out  ever  unwittingly  to 
injure  what   he  loved  beyond  all  else. 

"  The  recital  took  such  hold  of  my  imagination,  that 
what  I  had  read  of  the  poem  began  dimly,  in  my 
mind,  to  conglomerate  into  a  whole ;  wherewith  I  was 
so  taken  that  I  could  not  but  propose  to  have  it  some 
way  represented.  I  meant  to  have  Tancred  and 
Rinaldo  acted  ;  and,  for  this  purpose,  two  coats  of  mail, 
which  I  had  before  manufactured,  seemed  expressly 
suitable.  The  one,  formed  of  dark  gray  paper  with  scales, 
was  to  serve  for  the  solemn  Tancred ;  the  other,  of 
silver  and  gilt  paper,  for  the  magnificent  Einaldo.  In 
the  vivacity  of  my  anticipations,  I  told  the  whole  project 
to  my  comrades,  who  felt  quite  charmed  with  it,  except 
that  they  could  not  well  comprehend  how  so  glorious 
a  thing  could  be  exhibited,  and,  above  all,  exhibited  by 
them. 

"  Such  scruples  I  easily  set  aside.  Without  hesita- 
tion, I  took  upon  me,  in  idea,  the  management  of  two 
rooms  in  the  house  of  a  neighbouring  playmate ;  not 
calculating  that  his  venerable  aunt  would  never  give 
them  up,  or  considering  how  a  theatre  could  be  made  of 
them,  whereof  I  had  no  settled  notion,  except  that  it 
was  to  be  fixed  on  beams,  to  have  side-scenes  made  of 
parted  folding-screens,  and  on  the  floor  a  large  piece 
of  cloth.  From  what  quarter  these  materials  and  fur- 
nishings were  to  come,  I  had  not  determined. 

"  So  far  as  concerned  the  forest,  we  fell  upon  a  good 
expedient.  We  betook  ourselves  to  an  old  servant  of 
one  of  our  families,  who  had  now  become  a  woodman, 
with  many  entreaties  that  he  would  get  us  a  few  young 


30  meister's  apprenticeship 

firs  and  birches ;  which  actually  arrived  more  speedily 
than  we  had  reason  to  expect.  But,  in  the  next  place, 
great  was  our  embarrassment  as  to  how  the  piece  should 
be  got  up  before  the  trees  were  withered.  Now  was 
the  time  for  prudent  counsel.  We  had  no  house,  no 
scenery,  no  curtain :  the  folding-screens  were  all  we 
had. 

"  In  this  forlorn  condition  we  again  applied  to  the 
lieutenant,  giving  him  a  copious  description  of  all  the 
glorious  things  we  meant  to  do.  Little  as  he  under- 
stood us,  he  was  very  helpful :  he  piled  all  the  tables 
he  could  get  in  the  house  or  neighbourhood,  one  above 
the  other,  in  a  little  room :  to  these  he  fixed  our  fold- 
ing-screens, and  made  a  back  view  with  green  curtains, 
sticking  up  our  trees  along  with  it. 

"  At  length  the  appointed  evening  came  :  the  candles 
were  ht,  the  maids  and  children  were  sitting  in  their 
places,  the  piece  was  to  go  forward,  the  whole  corps  of 
heroes  was  equipped  and  dressed,  —  when  each  for  the 
first  time  discovered  that  he  knew  not  what  he  was  to 
say.  In  the  heat  of  invention,  being  quite  immersed 
in  present  difficulties,  I  had  forgotten  the  necessity  of 
each  understanding  what  and  where  he  was  to  speak ; 
nor,  in  the  midst  of  our  bustling  preparations,  had  it 
once  occurred  to  the  rest ;  each  beheving  he  could 
easily  enact  a  hero,  easily  so  speak  and  bear  himself, 
as  became  the  personage  into  whose  w^orld  I  had  trans- 
planted him.  They  all  stood  wonder-struck,  asking. 
What  was  to  come  first  ?  I  alone,  having  previously 
got  ready  Tancred's  part,  entered  sohis  on  the  scene, 
and  began  reciting  some  verses  of  the  epic.  But  as  the 
passage  soon  changed  into  narrative,  and  I,  while  speak- 
ing, was  at  once  transformed  into  a  third  party,  and 
the  bold  Godfredo,  when  his  turn  came,  would  not 
venture  forth,  I  was  at  last  obliged  to  take  leave  of  my 
spectators  under  peals  of  laughter,  —  a  disaster  which 
cut  me  to  the  heart.    Thus  had  our  undertaking  proved 


meister's  apprenticeship  31 

abortive ;  but  the  company  still  kept  their  places,  still 
wishing  to  see  something.  All  of  us  were  dressed :  I 
screwed  my  courage  up,  and  determined,  foul  or  fair, 
to  give  them  David  and  Goliath.  Some  of  my  com- 
panions had  before  this  helped  me  to  exhibit  the 
puppet-play ;  all  of  them  had  often  seen  it ;  we  shared 
the  characters  among  us ;  each  promised  to  do  his 
best ;  and  one  small,  grinning  urchin  painted  a  black 
beard  upon  his  chin,  and  undertook,  if  any  lacuna 
should  occur,  to  fill  it  with  drollery  as  harlequin,  —  an 
arrangement  to  which,  as  contradicting  the  solemnity 
of  the  piece,  I  did  not  consent  without  extreme  reluc- 
tance ;  and  I  vowed  within  myself,  that,  if  once  de- 
livered out  of  this  perplexity,  I  would  think  long  and 
well  before  risking  the  exhibition  of  another  play." 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

Mariana,  overpowered  with  sleep,  leaned  upon  her 
lover,  who  clasped  her  close  to  him,  and  proceeded  in 
his  narrative ;  while  the  old  damsel  prudently  sipped 
up  the  remainder  of  the  wine. 

"  The  embarrassment,"  he  said,  "  into  which,  along 
with  my  companions,  I  had  fallen,  by  attempting 
to  act  a  play  that  did  not  anywhere  exist,  was  soon 
forgotten.  My  passion  for  representing  each  romance 
I  read,  each  story  that  w^as  told  me,  would  not  yield 
before  the  most  unmanageable  materials.  I  felt  con- 
vinced that  whatever  gave  delight  in  narrative  must 
produce  a  far  deeper  impression  when  exhibited :  I 
wanted  to  have  everything  before  my  eyes,  everything 
brought  forth  upon  the  stage.  At  school,  when  the 
elements  of  general  history  were  related  to  us,  I  care- 
fully marked  the  passages  where  any  person  had  been 
slain  or  poisoned  in  a  singular  way  ;  and  my  imagina- 
tion, glancing  rapidly  along  the  exposition  and  intrigue, 
hastened  to  the  interesting  fifth  act.  Indeed,  I  actually 
began  to  write  some  plays  from  the  end  backwards, 
without,  however,  in  any  of  them  reaching  the  be- 
ginning. 

"  At  the  same  time,  partly  by  inclination,  partly  by 
the  counsel  of  my  good  friends,  who  had  caught  the 
fancy  of  acting  plays,  I  read  a  whole  wilderness  of 
theatrical  productions,  as  chance  put  them  into  my 
hands.  I  was  still  in  those  happy  years  w^hen  all 
things  please  us,  when  number  and  variety  yield  us 
abundant  satisfaction.  Unfortunately,  too,  my  taste 
was  corrupted  by  another  circumstance.      Any  piece 

32 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  ^3 

delighted  me  especially,  in  which  I  could  hope  to  give 
delight ;  there  were  few  which  I  did  not  peruse  in  this 
agreeable  delusion :  and  my  lively  conceptive  power 
enabhng  me  to  transfer  myself  into  all  the  characters, 
seduced  me  to  believe  that  I  might  likewise  represent 
them  all.  Hence,  in  the  distribution  of  the  parts,  I 
commonly  selected  such  as  did  not  fit  me,  and  always 
more  than  one  part,  if  I  could  by  any  means  accomplish 
more. 

"  In  their  games,  children  can  make  all  things  out 
of  any :  a  staff  becomes  a  musket,  a  splinter  of  wood  a 
sword,  any  bunch  of  cloth  a  puppet,  any  crevice  a 
chamber.  Upon  this  principle  was  our  private  theatre 
got  up.  Totally  unacquainted  with  the  measure  of  our 
strength,  we  undertook  all :  we  stuck  at  no  quid  i^'^o 
quo,  and  felt  convinced  that  every  one  would  take  us 
for  what  we  gave  ourselves  out  to  be.  Now,  however, 
our  affairs  went  on  so  soberly  and  smoothly,  that  I 
have  not  even  a  curious  insipidity  to  tell  you  of.  We 
first  acted  all  the  few  plays  in  which  only  males  are 
requisite,  next  we  travestied  some  of  ourselves,  and  at 
last  took  our  sisters  into  the  concern  along  with  us. 
In  one  or  two  houses,  our  amusement  was  looked  upon 
as  profitable,  and  company  was  invited  to  see  it.  Nor 
did  our  lieutenant  of  artillery  now  turn  his  back  upon 
us.  He  showed  us  how  we  ought  to  make  our  exits 
and  our  entrances ;  how  we  should  declaim,  and  with 
what  attitudes  and  gestures.  Yet  generally  he  earned 
small  thanks  for  his  toil,  we  conceiving  ourselves  to  be 
much  deeper  in  the  secrets  of  theatrical  art  than  he 
himself  was. 

"  We  very  soon  began  to  grow  tired  of  tragedy ;  for 
all  of  us  believed,  as  we  had  often  heard,  that  it  was 
easier  to  write  or  represent  a  tragedy  than  to  attain 
proficiency  in  comedy.  In  our  first  attempts,  accord- 
ingly, we  had  felt  as  if  exactly  in  our  element :  dignity 
of  ranJk,  elevation  of  character,  we  studied  to  approach 


34  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

by  stiffness  and  affectation,  and  imagined  that  we  suc- 
ceeded rarely;  but  our  happiness  was  not  complete, 
except  we  might  rave  outright,  might  stamp  with  our 
feet,  and,  full  of  fury  and  despair,  cast  ourselves  upon 
the  ground. 

"  Boys  and  girls  had  not  long  carried  on  these 
amusements  in  concert,  till  Nature  began  to  take  her 
course ;  and  our  society  branched  itself  off  into  sundry 
little  love-associations,  as  generally  more  than  one  sort 
of  comedy  is  acted  in  the  playhouse.  Behind  the 
scenes,  each  happy  pair  pressed  hands  in  the  most 
tender  style ;  they  floated  in  blessedness,  appearing  to 
one  another  quite  ideal  persons,  when  so  transformed 
and  decorated ;  whilst,  on  the  other  hand,  unlucky 
rivals  consumed  themselves  with  envy,  and  out  of 
malice  and  spite  worked  every  species  of  mischief. 

"  Our  amusements,  though  undertaken  without  judg- 
ment, and  carried  on  without  instruction,  were  not 
without  their  use  to  us.  We  trained  our  memories 
and  persons,  and  acquired  more  dexterity  in  speech 
and  gesture  than  is  usually  met  with  at  so  early  an 
age.  But,  for  me  in  particular,  this  time  was  in  truth 
an  epoch:  my  mind  turned  all  its  faculties  exclusively 
to  the  theatre  ;  and  my  highest  happiness  was  in  read- 
ing, in  wi'iting,  or  in  acting,  plays. 

"  Meanwhile  the  labours  of  my  regular  teachers  con- 
tinued :  I  had  been  set  apart  for  the  mercantile  life, 
and  placed  under  the  guidance  of  our  neighbour  in  the 
counting-house ;  yet  my  spirit  at  this  very  time  re- 
coiled more  forcibly  than  ever  from  all  that  was  to  bind 
me  to  a  low  profession.  It  w^as  to  the  stage  that  I 
aimed  at  consecrating  all  my  powers,  —  on  the  stage 
that  I  meant  to  seek  all  my  happiness  and  satisfaction. 

"  I  recollect  a  poem,  which  must  be  among  my 
papers,  where  the  Muse  of  tragic  art  and  another 
female  form,  by  which  I  personified  Commerce,  were 
made  to  strive  very  bravely  for  my  most  important 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  35 

self.  The  idea  is  common,  nor  do  I  recollect  that  the 
verses  were  of  any  worth ;  but  you  shall  see  it,  for  the 
sake  of  the  fear,  the  abhorrence,  the  love  and  passion, 
which  are  prominent  in  it.  How  repulsively  did  I 
paint  the  old  housewife,  with  the  distaff  in  her  girdle, 
the  bunch  of  keys  by  her  side,  the  spectacles  on  her 
nose,  ever  toiling,  ever  restless,  quarrelsome,  and  penu- 
rious, pitiful  and  dissatisfied  !  How  feelingly  did  I 
describe  the  condition  of  that  poor  man  who  has  to 
cringe  beneath  her  rod,  and  earn  his  slavish  day's 
wages  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow ! 

"  And  how  differently  advanced  the  other !  What 
an  apparition  for  the  overclouded  mind !  Formed  as  a 
queen,  in  her  thoughts  and  looks  she  announced  her- 
self the  child  of  freedom.  The  feeling  of  her  own 
worth  gave  her  dignity  without  pride :  her  apparel 
became  her,  it  veiled  her  form  without  constraining  it ; 
and  the  rich  folds  repeated,  like  a  thousand-voiced  echo, 
the  graceful  movements  of  the  goddess.  What  a  con- 
trast !  How  easy  for  me  to  decide !  Nor  had  I  for- 
gotten the  more  peculiar  characteristics  of  my  Muse. 
Crowns  and  daggers,  chains  and  masks,  as  my  prede- 
cessors had  delivered  them,  were  here  produced  once 
more.  The  contention  was  keen :  the  speeches  of  both 
were  palpably  enough  contrasted,  for  at  fourteen  years 
of  age  one  usually  paints  the  black  lines  and  the  white 
pretty  near  each  other.  The  old  lady  spoke  as  be- 
seemed a  person  that  would  pick  up  a  pin  from  her 
path ;  the  other,  like  one  that  could  give  away  king- 
doms. The  warning  threats  of  the  housewife  were 
disregarded ;  I  turned  my  back  upon  her  promised 
riches:  disinherited  and  naked,  I  gave  myself  up  to 
the  Muse ;  she  threw  her  golden  veil  over  me,  and 
called  me  hers. 

"  Could  I  have  thought,  my  dearest,"  he  exclaimed, 
pressing  Mariana  close  to  him,  "  that  another,  a  more 
lovely  goddess,  would  come  to   encourage  me  in  my 


36  MEISTER'S   APPRENTICESHIP 

purpose,  to  travel  with  me  on  my  journey,  the  poem 
might  have  had  a  finer  turn,  a  far  more  interesting  end. 
Yet  it  is  no  poetry,  it  is  truth  and  hfe  that  I  feel  in 
thy  arms:  let  us  prize  the  sweet  happiness,  and  con- 
sciously enjoy  it." 

The  pressure  of  his  arms,  the  emotion  of  his  elevated 
voice,  awoke  Mariana,  who  hastened  by  caresses  to 
conceal  her  embarrassment :  for  no  word  of  the  last 
part  of  his  story  had  reached  her.  It  is  to  be  wished, 
that  in  future,  our  hero,  when  recounting  his  favourite 
histories,  may  find  more  attentive  hearers. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Thus  Wilhelm  passed  his  nights  in  the  enjoyment 
of  confiding  love,  his  days  in  the  expectation  of  new 
happy  hours.  When  desire  and  hope  had  first  attracted 
him  to  Mariana,  he  ah-eady  felt  as  if  inspired  with 
new  life ;  felt  as  if  he  were  beginning  to  be  another 
man ;  he  was  now  united  to  her ;  the  contentment  of 
his  wishes  had  become  a  dehcious  habitude.  His 
heart  strove  to  ennoble  the  object  of  his  passion ;  his 
spirit,  to  exalt  with  it  the  young  creature  whom  he 
loved.  In  the  shortest  absence,  thoughts  of  her  arose 
within  him.  If  she  had  once  been  necessary  to  him, 
she  was  now  gi'own  indispensable,  now  that  he  was 
bound  to  her  by  all  the  ties  of  nature.  His  pure  soul 
felt  that  she  was  the  half,  more  than  the  half,  of  him- 
self.    He  was  grateful  and  devoted  without  Umit. 

Mariana,  too,  succeeded  in  deceiving  herself  for  a 
season :  she  shared  with  him  the  feeling  of  his  liveliest 
blessedness.  Alas  !  if  but  the  cold  hand  of  self-reproach 
had  not  often  come  across  her  heart !  She  was  not 
secure  from  it,  even  in  Wilhelm's  bosom,  even  under 
the  wings  of  his  love.  And  when  she  was  again  left 
alone,  again  left  to  sink  from  the  clouds,  to  which 
passion  had  exalted  her,  into  the  consciousness  of  her 
real  condition,  then  she  was  indeed  to  be  pitied.  So 
long  as  she  had  hved  among  degrading  perplexities, 
disguising  from  herself  her  real  situation,  or  rather 
never  thinking  of  it,  frivolity  had  helped  her  through ; 
the  incidents  she  was  exposed  to  had  come  upon  her 
each  by  itself ;  satisfaction  and  vexation  had  cancelled 
one  another;  humiliation   had  been   compensated   by 

37 


38  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

vanity ;  want  by  frequent,  thougli  momentary,  super- 
fluity ;  she  could  plead  necessity  and  custom  as  a  law 
or  an  excuse ;  and  hitherto  all  painful  emotions  from 
hour  to  hour,  and  from  day  to  day,  had  by  these 
means  been  shaken  off.  But  now,  for  some  instants, 
the  poor  girl  had  felt  herself  transported  to  a  better 
world ;  aloft,  as  it  were,  in  the  midst  of  light  and  joy, 
she  had  looked  down  upon  the  abject  desert  of  her  life, 
had  felt  what  a  miserable  creature  is  the  woman,  who, 
inspiring  desire,  does  not  also  inspire  reverence  and 
love :  she  regretted  and  repented,  but  found  herself 
outwardly  or  inwardly  no  better  for  regret.  She  had 
nothing  that  she  could  accomplish  or  resolve  upon. 
When  she  looked  into  and  searched  herself,  all  was 
waste  and  void  within  her  soul :  her  heart  had  no  place 
of  strength  or  refuge.  But  the  more  sorro^-ful  her 
state  was,  the  more  vehemently  did  her  feelings  cling 
to  the  man  she  loved :  her  passion  for  him  even  waxed 
stronger  daily,  as  the  danger  of  losing  him  came  daily 
nearer. 

Willielm,  on  the  other  hand,  soared  serenely  happy 
in  higher  regions :  to  him  also  a  new  world  had  been 
disclosed,  but  a  world  rich  in  the  most  glorious  pros- 
pects. Scarcely  had  the  first  excess  of  joy  subsided, 
when  all  that  had  long  been  gliding  dimly  through  his 
soul  stood  up  in  bright  distinctness  before  it.  She  is 
mine !  She  has  given  herself  up  to  me !  She,  the 
loved,  the  wished  for,  the  adored,  has  given  herself  up 
to  me  in  trust  and  faith :  she  shall  not  find  me  ungrate- 
ful for  the  gift.  Standing  or  walking,  he  talked  to 
himself ;  his  heart  constantly  overflowed ;  with  a  copi- 
ousness of  splendid  words,  he  uttered  to  himself  the 
loftiest  emotions.  He  imagined  that  he  understood 
the  visible  beckoning  of  Fate,  reaching  out  its  hand 
by  Mariana  to  save  him  from  the  stagnant,  weary, 
drudging  life,  out  of  which  he  had  so  often  wished  for 
dehverance.     To  leave  his  father's  house  and  people, 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  39 

now  appeared  a  light  matter.  He  was  young,  and  had 
not  tried  the  world :  his  eagerness  to  range  over  its 
expanses,  seeking  fortune  and  contentment,  was  stimu- 
lated by  his  love.  His  vocation  for  the  theatre  was 
now  clear  to  him :  the  high  goal,  which  he  saw  raised 
before  him,  seemed  nearer  whilst  he  was  advancing  to 
it  with  Mariana's  hand  in  his ;  and,  in  his  comfortable 
prudence,  he  beheld  in  himself  the  embryo  of  a  great 
actor,  —  the  future  founder  of  that  national  theatre, 
for  which  he  heard  so  much  and  various  sighing  on 
every  side.  All  that  till  now  had  slumbered  in  the 
innermost  corners  of  his  soul,  at  length  awoke.  He 
painted  for  himself  a  picture  of  his  manifold  ideas,  in 
the  colours  of  love,  upon  a  canvas  of  cloud :  the  figures 
of  it,  indeed,  ran  sadly  into  one  another ;  yet  the  whole 
had  an  air  but  the  more  brilliant  on  that  account. 


CHAPTER  X. 

He  was  now  in  his  chamber  at  home,  ransacking 
his  papers,  making  ready  for  departure.  Whatever 
savoured  of  his  previous  employment  he  threw  aside, 
meaning  at  his  entrance  upon  life  to  be  free,  even 
from  recollections  that  could  pain  him.  Works  of 
taste  alone,  poets  and  critics,  were,  as  acknowledged 
friends,  placed  among  the  chosen  few.  Heretofore 
he  had  given  little  heed  to  the  critical  authors:  his 
desire  for  instruction  now  revived,  when,  again  look- 
ing through  his  books,  he  found  the  theoretical  part 
of  them  lying  generally  still  uncut.  In  the  full 
persuasion  that  such  works  were  absolutely  necessary, 
he  had  bought  a  number  of  them :  but,  with  the  best 
disposition  in  the  world,  he  had  not  reached  midway 
in  any. 

The  more  steadfastly,  on  the  other  hand,  he  had 
dwelt  upon  examples,  and,  in  every  kind  that  was 
known  to  him,  had  made  attempts  himself. 

Werner  entered  the  room;  and,  seeing  his  friend 
busied  with  the  well-known  sheets,  he  exclaimed, 
"  Again  among  your  papers  ?  And  without  intending, 
I  dare  swear,  to  finish  any  one  of  them  I  You  look 
them  through  and  through  once  or  twice,  then  throw 
them  by,  and  begin  something  new." 

"  To  finish  is  not  the  scholar's  care :  it  is  enough  if 
he  improves  himself  by  practice." 

"  But  also  completes  according  to  his  best  abihty." 

"  And  still  the  question  might  be  asked,  •  Is  there 
not  good  hope  of  a  youth,  who,  on  commencing  some 
unsuitable  affair,  soon  discovers  its  unsuitableness,  and 

40 


MEISTER'S  APPRENTICESHIP  41 

discontinues  his  exertions,  not  choosing  to  spend  toil 
and  time  on  what  never  can  be  of  any  value  ? ' " 

"  I  know  well  enough  it  was  never  your  concern  to 
bring  aught  to  a  conclusion :  you  have  always  sickened 
on  it  before  it  came  half-way.  When  you  were  the 
director  of  our  puppet-show,  for  instance,  how  many 
times  were  fresh  clothes  got  ready  for  the  dwarfish 
troop,  fresh  decorations  furbished  up  ?  Now  this  trag- 
edy was  to  be  acted,  now  that :  and  at  the  very  best 
you  gave  us  some  fifth  act,  where  all  was  going  topsy- 
turvy, and  people  cutting  one  another's  throats." 

"  If  you  talk  of  those  times,  whose  blame  really  was 
it  that  we  ripped  off  from  our  puppets  the  clothes  that 
fitted  them,  and  were  fast  stitched  to  their  bodies,  and 
laid  out  money  for  a  large  and  useless  wardrobe  ? 
Was  it  not  yours,  my  good  friend,  who  had  always 
some  fragment  of  ribbon  to  traffic  with ;  and  skill,  at 
the  same  time,  to  stimulate  my  taste,  and  turn  it  to 
your  profit  ? " 

Werner  laughed,  and  continued,  "  1  still  recollect, 
with  pleasure,  how  I  used  to  extract  gain  from  your 
theatrical  campaigns,  as  army  contractors  do  from  war. 
When  you  mustered  for  the  '  Deliverance  of  Jerusalem,' 
I,  for  my  part,  made  a  pretty  thing  of  profit,  like  the 
Venetians  in  the  corresponding  case.  I  know  of  noth- 
ing in  the  world  more  rational  than  to  turn  the  folly 
of  others  to  our  own  advantage." 

"  Perhaps  it  were  a  nobler  satisfaction  to  cure  men 
of  their  follies." 

■''  From  the  little  I  know  of  men,  this  might  seem  a 
vain  endeavour.  But  something  toward  it  is  always 
done,  when  any  individual  man  grows  wise  and  rich ; 
and  generally  this  happens  at  the  cost  of  others." 

"Well,  here  is  'The  Youth  at  the  Parting  of  the 
Ways : '  it  has  just  come  into  my  hand,"  said  Wilhelm, 
drawing  out  a  bunch  of  papers  from  the  rest ;  "  this  at 
least  is  finished,  whatever  else  it  may  be." 


42  MEISTER'S  APPRENTICESHIP 

"  Away  with  it !  to  the  fire  with  it ! "  cried  Werner. 
"The  invention  does  not  deserve  the  smallest  praise: 
that  affair  has  plagued  me  enough  already,  and  drawn 
upon  yourself  your  father's  wrath.  The  verses  may 
be  altogether  beautiful,  but  the  meaning  of  them  is 
fundamentally  false.  I  still  recollect  your  Commerce 
personified :  a  shrivelled,  WTetched-looking  sibyl  she 
"was.  I  suppose  you  picked  up  the  image  of  her  from 
some  miserable  huckster's  shop.  At  that  time  you 
had  no  true  idea  at  all  of  trade ;  w^hilst  I  could  not 
think  of  any  man  whose  spirit  was,  or  needed  to  be, 
more  enlarged  than  the  spirit  of  a  genuine  merchant. 
What  a  thing  is  it  to  see  the  order  which  prevails 
throughout  his  business !  By  means  of  this  he  can 
at  any  time  survey  the  general  whole,  without  needing 
to  perplex  himself  in  the  details.  What  advantages 
does  he  derive  from  the  system  of  bookkeeping  by 
double  entry  !  It  is  among  the  finest  inventions  of  the 
human  mind:  every  prudent  master  of  a  house  should 
introduce  it  into  his  economy." 

"  Pardon  me,"  said  Wilhelm,  smihng ;  "  you  begin  by 
the  form,  as  if  it  were  the  matter :  you  traders  com- 
monly, in  your  additions  and  balancings,  forget  what 
is  the  proper  net  result  of  life." 

"  My  good  friend,  you  do  not  see  how  form  and 
matter  are  in  this  case  one,  how  neither  can  exist 
without  the  other.  Order  and  arrangement  increase 
the  deshe  to  save  and  get.  A  man  embarrassed  in 
his  circumstances,  and  conducting  them  imprudently, 
likes  best  to  continue  in  the  dark :  he  will  not  gladly 
reckon  up  the  debtor  entries  he  is  charged  with.  But, 
on  the  other  hand,  there  is  nothing  to  a  prudent 
manager  more  pleasant  than  daily  to  set  before  himself 
the  sums  of  his  growing  fortune.  Even  a  mischance, 
if  it  surprise  and  vex,  will  not  affright,  him ;  for  he 
knows  at  once  what  gains  he  has  acquired  to  cast  into 
the  other  scale.     I  am  convinced,  my  friend,  that,  if 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  43 

you  once  had  a  proper  taste  for  our  employments,  you 
would  grant  that  many  faculties  of  the  mind  are  called 
into  full  and  vigorous  play  by  them." 

"  Possibly  this  journey  I  am  thinking  of  may  bring 
me  to  other  thoughts." 

"  Oh,  certainly  !  Believe  me,  you  want  but  to  look 
upon  some  great  scene  of  activity  to  make  you  ours 
for  ever ;  and,  when  you  come  back,  you  will  joyfully 
enroll  yourself  among  that  class  of  men  whose  art  it  is 
to  draw  toward  themselves  a  portion  of  the  money, 
and  materials  of  enjoyment,  which  circulate  in  their 
appointed  courses  through  the  world.  Cast  a  look  on 
the  natural  and  artificial  productions  of  all  the  regions 
of  the  earth;  consider  how  they  have  become,  one 
here,  another  there,  articles  of  necessity  for  men.  How 
pleasant  and  how  intellectual  a  task  is  it  to  calculate, 
at  any  moment,  what  is  most  required,  and  yet  is 
wanting,  or  hard  to  find ;  to  procure  for  each  easily  and 
soon  what  he  demands ;  to  lay  in  your  stock  prudently 
beforehand,  and  then  to  enjoy  the  profit  of  every  pulse 
in  that  mighty  circulation.  This,  it  appears  to  me, 
is  what  no  man  that  has  a  head  can  attend  to  without 
pleasure." 

Wilhelm  seemed  to  acquiesce,  and  Werner  continued. 

"Do  but  visit  one  or  two  great  trading-towns,  one 
or  two  seaports,  and  see  if  you  can  with.stand  the  im- 
pression. When  you  observe  how  many  men  are 
busied,  whence  so  many  things  have  come,  and  whither 
they  are  going,  you  will  feel  as  if  you,  too,  could  gladly 
mingle  in  the  business.  You  will  then  see  the  smallest 
piece  of  ware  in  its  connection  with  the  whole  mercan- 
tile concern ;  and  for  that  very  reason  you  will  reckon 
nothing  paltry,  because  everything  augments  the  circu- 
lation by  which  you  yourself  are  supported." 

Werner  had  formed  his  solid  understanding  in 
constant  intercourse  with  Willielm :  he  was  thus 
accustomed    to    think    also  of   his   profession,   of   his 


44  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

employments,  with  elevation  of  soul ;  and  he  firmly 
believed  that  he  did  so  with  more  justice  than  his 
otherwise  more  gifted  and  valued  friend,  who,  as  it 
seemed  to  him,  had  placed  his  dearest  hopes,  and 
directed  all  the  force  of  his  mind,  upon  the  most 
imaginary  objects  in  the  world.  Many  a  time  he 
thought  his  false  enthusiasm  would  infallibly  be  got 
the  better  of,  and  so  excellent  a  soul  be  brought  back 
to  the  right  path.  So  hoping  in  the  present  instance, 
he  continued,  "  The  gi-eat  ones  of  the  world  have  taken 
this  earth  of  ours  to  themselves :  they  live  in  the  midst 
of  splendour  and  superfluity.  The  smallest  nook  of 
the  land  is  already  a  possession  which  none  may  touch 
or  meddle  with :  offices  and  civil  calhngs  bring  in  Ht- 
tle  profit.  Where,  then,  will  you  find  more  honest 
acquisitions,  juster  conquests,  than  those  of  trade  ?  If 
the  princes  of  this  world  hold  the  rivers,  the  highways, 
the  havens,  in  their  power,  and  take  a  heavy  tribute 
from  everything  that  passes  through  them,  may  not 
we  embrace  with  joy  the  opportunity  of  levying  tax 
and  toll,  by  our  activity,  on  those  commodities  which 
the  real  or  imaginary  wants  of  men  have  rendered 
indispensable  ?  I  can  promise  you,  if  jou  would  rightly 
apply  your  poetic  view,  my  goddess  might  be  repre- 
sented as  an  invincible,  victorious  queen,  and  boldly 
opposed  to  yours.  It  is  true,  she  bears  the  olive  rather 
than  the  sword :  dagger  or  chain  she  knows  not.  But 
she,  too,  gives  crowns  to  her  favourites  ;  which,  without 
offence  to  yours  be  it  said,  are  of  true  gold  from  the 
furnace  and  the  mine,  and  glance  with  genuine  pearls, 
which  she  brings  up  from  the  depths  of  the  ocean  by 
the  hands  of  her  unwearied  servants." 

This  sally  somewhat  nettled  Wilhelm ;  but  he  con- 
cealed his  sentiments,  remembering  that  Werner  used 
to  listen  with  composure  to  Ms  apostrophes.  Besides, 
he  had  fairness  enough  to  be  pleased  at  seeing  each 
man  think  the  best  of  his  own  peculiar  craft,  provided 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  45 

only  his,  of  which  he  was  so  passionately  fond^  were 
likewise  left  in  peace. 

"  And  for  you,"  exclaimed  "Werner,  "  who  take  so 
warm  an  interest  in  human  concerns,  what  a  sight  will 
it  be  to  behold  the  fortune,  which  accompanies  bold 
undertakings,  distributed  to  men  before  your  eyes ! 
What  is  more  spirit-stirring  than  the  aspect  of  a  ship 
arriving  from  a  lucky  voyage,  or  soon  returning  with 
a  rich  capture  ?  Not  only  the  relatives,  the  acquaint- 
ances, and  those  that  share  with  the  adventurers,  but 
every  unconcerned  spectator  also,  is  excited,  when  he 
sees  the  joy  with  which  the  long-imprisoned  shipman 
springs  on  land  before  his  keel  has  wholly  reached  it, 
feehng  that  he  is  free  once  more,  and  now  can  trust 
what  he  has  rescued  from  the  false  sea  to  the  firm  and 
faithful  earth.  It  is  not,  my  friend,  in  figures  of 
arithmetic  alone  that  gain  presents  itself  before  us. 
Fortune  is  the  goddess  of  breathing  men :  to  feel  her 
favours  truly,  we  must  live  and  be  men  who  toil  with 
their  living  minds  and  bodies,  and  enjoy  with  them 
also." 


CHAPTEE   XI. 

It  is  now  time  that  we  should  know  something  more 
of  Wilhelm's  father  and  of  Werner's,  —  two  men  of 
very  different  modes  of  thinking,  but  whose  opinions 
so  far  coincided,  that  both  regarded  commerce  as  the 
noblest  calhng ;  and  both  were  peculiarly  attentive  to 
every  advantage  which  any  kind  of  speculation  might 
produce  to  them.  Old  Meister,  when  his  father  died, 
had  turned  into  money  a  valuable  collection  of  pictures, 
drawings,  copper-plates,  and  antiquities :  he  had  entirely 
rebuilt  and  furnished  his  house  in  the  newest  style, 
and  turned  his  other  property  to  profit  in  all  possible 
ways.  A  considerable  portion  of  it  he  had  embarked 
in  trade,  under  the  direction  of  the  elder  Werner,  — 
a  man  noted  as  an  active  merchant,  whose  speculations 
were  commonly  favoured  by  fortune.  But  nothing  was 
so  much  desired  by  Meister  as  to  confer  upon  his  son 
those  qualities  of  which  himself  was  destitute,  and  to 
leave  his  children  advantages  which  he  reckoned  it  of 
the  highest  importance  to  possess.  Withal,  he  felt  a 
peculiar  inclination  for  magnificence,  —  for  whatever 
catches  the  eye,  and  possesses  at  the  same  time  real 
worth  and  durability.  In  his  house  he  would  have  all 
things  solid  and  massive:  his  stores  must  be  copious 
and  rich,  all  his  plate  must  be  heavy,  the  furniture  of 
his  table  must  be  costly.  On  the  other  hand,  his  guests 
were  seldom  invited ;  for  every  dinner  was  a  festival, 
which,  both  for  its  expense  and  for  its  inconvenience, 
could  not  often  be  repeated.  The  economy  of  his 
house  went  on  at  a  settled,  uniform  rate ;  and  every- 

46 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  47 

thing  that  moved  or  had  place  in  it  was  just  what 
yielded  no  one  any  real  enjoyment. 

The  elder  Werner,  in  his  dark  and  hampered  house, 
led  quite  another  sort  of  hfe.  The  business  of  the 
day,  in  his  narrow  counting-house,  at  his  ancient  desk, 
once  done,  Werner  liked  to  eat  well,  and,  if  possible, 
to  drink  better.  Nor  could  he  fully  enjoy  good  things 
in  solitude :  with  his  family  he  must  always  see  at 
table  his  friends,  and  any  stranger  that  had  the  slightest 
connection  with  his  house.  His  chairs  w^ere  of  un- 
known age  and  antic  fashion,  but  he  daily  invited  some 
to  sit  on  them.  The  dainty  victuals  arrested  the  atten- 
tion of  his  guests,  and  none  remarked  that  they  were 
served  up  in  common  ware.  His  cellar  held  no  great 
stock  of  wine,  but  the  emptied  niches  were  usually 
filled  by  more  of  a  superior  sort. 

So  lived  these  two  fathers,  often  meeting  to  take 
counsel  about  their  common  concerns.  On  the  day 
we  are  speaking  of,  it  had  been  determined  to  send 
Wilhelm  out  from  home,  for  the  despatch  of  some 
commercial  affairs. 

"Let  him  look  about  him  in  the  world,"  said  old 
Meister,  "  and  at  the  same  time  carry  on  our  business  in 
distant  parts.  One  cannot  do  a  young  man  any  greater 
kindness  than  initiate  him  early  in  the  future  business 
of  his  life.  Your  son  returned  so  happily  from  his  first 
expedition,  and  transacted  his  affairs  so  cleverly,  that 
I  am  very  curious  to  see  how  mine  will  do :  his  ex- 
perience, I  fear,  will  cost  him  dearer." 

Old  Meister  had  a  high  notion  of  his  son's  faculties 
and  capabihties :  he  said  this  in  the  hope  that  his 
friend  would  contradict  him,  and  hold  up  to  view  the 
admirable  gifts  of  the  youth.  Here,  however,  he  de- 
ceived himself.  Old  Werner,  who,  in  practical  con- 
cerns, would  trust  no  man  but  such  as  he  had  proved, 
answered  placidly,  "  One  must  try  all  things.  We  can 
send   him  on  the   same  journey ;  we   shall  give  him 


48  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

a  paper  of  directions  to  conduct  him.  There  are 
sundry  debts  to  be  gathered  in,  old  connections  are 
to  be  renewed,  new  ones  to  be  made.  He  may  like- 
wise help  the  speculation  I  was  lately  talking  of ;  for, 
without  punctual  intelHgence  gathered  on  the  spot, 
there  is  little  to  be  done  in  it." 

"  He  must  prepare,"  said  Meister,  "  and  set  forth  as 
soon  as  possible.  Where  shall  we  get  a  horse  for  him 
to  suit  this  business  ? " 

"  We  shall  not  seek  far.     The  shopkeeper  in  H , 

who  owes  us  somewhat,  but  is  withal  a  good  man,  has 
offered  me  a  horse  instead  of  payment.  My  son 
knows  it,  and  tells  me  it  is  a  serviceable  beast." 

"  He  may  fetch  it  himself.  Let  him  go  with  the 
dihgence ;  the  day  after  to-morrow  he  is  back  again 
betimes ;  we  have  his  saddle-bags  and  letters  made 
ready  in  the  meantime ;  he  can  set  out  on  Monday 
morning." 

Wilhelm  was  sent  for,  and  informed  of  their  deter- 
mination. Who  so  glad  as  he,  now  seeing  the  means 
of  executing  his  purpose  put  into  his  hands,  the  oppor- 
tunity made  ready  for  him,  without  cooperation  of  his 
own !  So  intense  was  his  love,  so  full  was  his  convic- 
tion of  the  perfect  rectitude  of  his  intention  to  escape 
from  the  pressure  of  his  actual  mode  of  hfe,  and  follow 
a  new  and  nobler  career,  that  his  conscience  did  not  in 
the  least  rebel ;  no  anxiety  arose  within  him ;  he  even 
reckoned  the  deception  he  was  meditating  holy.  He 
felt  certain,  that,  in  the  long  run,  parents  and  relations 
would  praise  and  bless  him  for  this  resolution :  he 
acknowledged  in  these  concurring  circumstances  the 
signal  of  a  guiding  fate. 

How  slowly  the  time  passed  with  him  till  night,  till 
the  hour  when  he  should  again  see  his  Mariana !  He 
sat  in  his  chamber,  and  revolved  the  plan  of  his  jour- 
ney ;  as  a  conjurer,  or  a  cunning  thief  in  durance, 
often  draws  out  his  feet  from  the  fast-locked  irons,  to 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  49 

cherish  in  himself  the  conviction  that  his  deliverance 
is  possible,  nay,  nearer  than  short-sighted  turnkeys 
believe. 

At  last  the  appointed  hour  struck.  He  went  out, 
shook  off  all  anxiety,  and  hastened  through  the  silent 
streets.  In  the  middle  of  the  great  square  he  raised 
his  hands  to  the  sky,  feeling  as  if  all  was  behind  him 
and  below  him :  he  had  freed  himself  from  all.  One 
moment  he  figured  himself  as  in  the  arms  of  his 
beloved,  the  next  as  glancing  with  her  in  the  splen- 
dours of  the  stage  :  he  soared  aloft  in  a  world  of  hopes, 
only  now  and  then  the  call  of  some  watchman  brought 
to  his  recollection  that  he  was  still  wandering  on  the 
vulgar  earth. 

Mariana  came  to  the  stairs  to  meet  him,  —  and  how 
beautiful,  how  lovely!  She  received  him  in  the  new 
white  negligee :  he  thought  he  had  never  seen  her 
so  charming.  Thus  did  she  handsel  the  gift  of  her 
absent  lover  in  the  arms  of  a  present  one ;  -svith  true 
passion  she  lavished  on  her  darhng  the  whole  treasure 
of  those  caresses  which  nature  suggested,  or  art  had 
taught :  need  we  ask  if  he  was  happy,  if  he  was 
blessed  ? 

He  disclosed  to  her  what  had  passed,  and  showed 
her,  in  general  terms,  his  plan  and  his  wishes.  He 
would  try,  he  said,  to  find  a  residence,  then  come  back 
for  her :  he  hoped  she  would  not  refuse  him  her  hand. 
The  poor  girl  was  silent :  she  concealed  her  tears,  and 
pressed  her  friend  against  her  bosom.  Wilhelm, 
though  interpreting  her  silence  in  the  most  favour- 
able manner,  could  have  wished  for  a  distinct  reply ; 
and  still  more,  when  at  last  he  inquired  of  her  in  the 
tenderest  and  most  delicate  terms,  if  he  might  not 
think  himself  a  father.  But  to  this  she  answered  only 
with  a  sigh,  with  a  kiss. 


CHAPTEE   XII. 

Next  morning  Mariana  awoke  only  to  new  despond- 
ency ;  she  felt  herself  very  solitary ;  she  wished  not 
to  see  the  light  of  day,  but  stayed  in  bed,  and  wept. 
Old  Barbara  sat  down  by  her,  and  tried  to  persuade 
and  console  her ;  but  it  was  not  in  her  power  so  soon 
to  heal  the  wounded  heart.  The  moment  was  now  at 
hand  to  which  the  poor  girl  had  been  looking  forward 
as  to  the  last  of  her  hfe.  Who  could  be  placed  in 
a  more  painful  situation  ?  The  man  she  loved  was 
departing ;  a  disagxeeable  lover  was  threatening  to 
come ;  and  the  most  fearful  mischiefs  were  to  be 
anticipated,  if  the  two,  as  might  easily  happen,  should 
meet  together. 

"  Calm  yourself,  my  dear,"  said  the  old  woman  :  "  do 
not  spoil  your  pretty  eyes  with  crying.  Is  it,  then,  so 
terrible  a  thing  to  have  two  lovers  ?  And  though  you 
can  bestow  your  love  but  on  the  one,  yet  be  thankful 
to  the  other,  who,  caring  for  you  as  he  does,  certainly 
deserves  to  be  named  your  friend." 

"  My  poor  Wilhelm,"  said  the  other,  all  in  tears, 
"had  warning  that  a  separation  was  at  hand.  A 
dream  discovered  to  him  what  we  strove  so  much  to 
hide.  He  was  sleeping  calmly  at  my  side ;  on  a  sud- 
den I  heard  him  mutter  some  unintelHgible  sounds : 
I  grew  frightened,  and  awoke  him.  Ah !  with  what 
love  and  tenderness  and  warmth  did  he  clasp  me! 
*  0  Mariana ! '  cried  he,  '  what  a  horrid  fate  have  you 
freed  me  from !  How  shall  I  thank  you  for  deliver- 
ance "from  such  torment  ?  I  dreamed  that  I  was  far 
from  you  in    an    unknown    country,  but  your  iigure 

so 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  51 

"hovered  before  me ;  I  saw  you  on  a  beautiful  hill,  the 
sunshine  was  glancing  over  it  all ;  how  charming  you 
looked !  But  it  had  not  lasted  long,  before  I  observed 
your  image  sinking  down,  sinking,  sinking :  I  stretched 
out  my  arms  toward  you ;  they  could  not  reach  you 
through  the  distance.  Your  image  still  kept  gliding 
down :  it  approached  a  great  sea  that  lay  far  extended 
at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  —  a  marsh  rather  than  a  sea. 
All  at  once  a  man  gave  you  his  hand,  and  seemed 
meaning  to  conduct  you  upwards ;  but  he  led  you 
sidewards,  and  appeared  to  draw  you  after  him.  I 
cried  out :  as  I  could  not  reach  you,  I  hoped  to  warn 
you.  If  I  tried  to  walk,  the  ground  seemed  to  hold 
me  fast;  if  I  could  walk,  the  water  hindered  me; 
and  even  my  cries  were  smothered  in  my  breast.'  So 
said  the  poor  youth,  while  recovering  from  his  terror, 
and  reckoning  himself  happy  to  see  a  frightful  dream 
thrust  aside  by  the  most  delicious  reality." 

Barbara  made  every  effort  to  reduce,  by  her  prose, 
the  poetry  of  her  friend  to  the  domain  of  common  life ; 
employing,  in  the  present  case,  the  ingenious  craft 
which  so  often  succeeds  with  bird-catchers,  when  they 
imitate  with  a  whistle  the  tones  of  those  luckless 
creatures  they  soon  hope  to  see  by  dozens  safely 
lodged  in  their  nets.  She  praised  Wilhelm :  she 
expatiated  on  his  figure,  his  eyes,  his  love.  The  poor 
girl  heard  her  with  a  gratified  heart,  then  arose,  let 
herself  be  dressed,  and  appeared  calmer.  "  My  child, 
my  darling,"  continued  the  old  woman,  in  a  cozening 
tone,  "  I  will  not  trouble  you,  or  injure  you :  I  cannot 
think  of  tearing  from  you  your  dearest  happiness. 
Could  you  mistake  my  intention  ?  Have  you  forgot- 
ten that  on  all  occasions  I  have  cared  for  you  more 
than  for  myself  ?  Tell  me  only  what  you  wish :  we 
shall  soon  see  how  it  may  be  brought  about." 

"  What  can  I  wish  ? "  said  Mariana ;  "  I  am  misera- 
ble, miserable  for  life :  I  love  him,  and  he  loves  me ; 


$2  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

yet  I  see  that  I  must  part  with  hiin,  and  know  not 
how  I  shall  survive  it.  Norberg  is  coming,  to  whom 
we  owe  our  whole  subsistence,  whom  we  cannot  live 
without.  Wilhelm  is  straitened  in  his  fortune :  he 
can  do  nothing  for  me." 

"  Yes,  unfortunately,  he  is  of  those  lovers  who  bring 
nothing  but  their  hearts ;  and  these  people,  too,  have 
the  highest  pretensions  of  any." 

"  No  jesting !  The  unhappy  youth  thinks  of  leaving 
his  home,  of  going  upon  the  stage,  of  offering  me  his 
hand." 

"  Of  empty  hands  we  have  akeady  four." 

"  I  have  no  choice,"  continued  Mariana :  "  do  you 
decide  for  me.  Cast  me  away  to  this  side  or  to  that ; 
mark  only  one  thing,  —  I  think  I  carry  in  my  bosom 
a  pledge  that  ought  to  unite  me  with  him  still  more 
closely.  Consider  and  determine :  whom  shall  I  for- 
sake ?  whom  shall  I  follow  ? " 

After  a  short  silence,  Barbara  exclaimed,  "  Strange 
that  youth  should  always  be  for  extremes !  To  my 
view,  nothing  would  be  easier  than  for  us  to  combine 
both  the  profit  and  the  enjoyment.  Do  you  love  the 
one,  let  the  other  pay  for  it :  all  we  have  to  mind, 
is  being  sharp  enough  to  keep  the  two  from  meeting." 

"  Do  as  you  please :  I  can  imagine  nothing,  but  I 
will  obey." 

"  We  have  this  advantage :  we  can  humour  the 
manager's  caprice  and  pride  about  the  morals  of  his 
troop.  Both  lovers  are  accustomed  already  to  go 
secretly  and  cautiously  to  work.  For  hours  and  op- 
portunity I  will  take  thought :  only  henceforth  you 
must  act  the  part  that  I  prescribe  to  you.  Who 
knows  what  circumstances  may  arise  to  help  us  ?  If 
Norberg  would  arrive  even  now,  when  Wilhelm  is 
away !  Who  can  hinder  you  from  thinking  of  the  one 
in  the  arms  of  the  other  ?  I  wish  you  a  son,  and 
good  fortune  with  him :  he  will  have  a  rich  father." 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  53 

These  projects  lightened  Mariana's  despondency 
only  for  a  very  short  time.  She  could  not  bring  her 
situation  into  harmony  with  her  feelings,  with  her 
convictions :  she  would  fain  have  forgotten  the  painful 
relations  in  which  she  stood,  and  a  thousand  little  cir- 
cumstances forced  them  back  every  moment  to  her 
recollection. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

In  the  meantime,  Wilhelm  had  completed  the  short 
preliminary  journey.  His  merchant  being  from  home, 
he  deHvered  the  letter  of  introduction  to  the  mistress 
of  the  house.  But  neither  did  this  lady  give  him  much 
furtherance  in  his  purposes :  she  was  in  a  violent  pas- 
sion, and  her  whole  economy  was  in  confusion. 

He  had  not  waited  long  when  she  disclosed  to  him, 
what  in  truth  could  not  be  kept  a  secret,  that  her  step- 
daughter had  run  off  with  a  player,  —  a  person  who  had 
parted  lately  from  a  small  strolling  company,  and  had 
stayed  in  the  place,  and  commenced  teaching  French. 
The  father,  distracted  with  grief  and  vexation,  had  run 
to  the  Amt  to  have  the  fugitives  pursued.  She  blamed 
her  daughter  bitterly,  and  \dlified  the  lover,  till  she  left 
no  tolerable  quahty  with  either :  she  deplored  at  great 
length  the  shame  thus  brought  upon  the  family ;  em- 
barrassing our  hero  not  a  little,  who  here  felt  his  own 
private  scheme  beforehand  judged  and  punished,  in  the 
spirit  of  prophecy  as  it  were,  by  this  frenzied  sibyl. 
Still  stronger  and  deeper  was  the  interest  he  took  in 
the  sorrows  of  the  father,  who  now  returned  from  the 
Amt,  and  with  fixed  sorrow,  in  broken  sentences,  gave 
his  wife  an  account  of  the  errand,  and  strove  to  hide 
the  embarrassment  and  distraction  of  his  mind ;  while, 
after  looking  at  the  letter,  he  directed  that  the  horse 
it  spoke  of  should  be  given  to  Wilhelm. 

Our  friend  thought  it  best  to  mount  his  steed  imme- 
diately, and  quit  a  house  where,  in  its  present  state,  he 
could  not  possibly  be  comfortable ;  but  the  honest  man 
would  not  allow  the  son  of  one  to  whom  he  had  so 

54 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  55 

many  obligations  to  depart  without  tasting  of  his  hos- 
pitality, without  remaining  at  least  a  night  beneath  his 
rgof. 

Wilhelm  had  partaken  of  a  melancholy  supper, 
worn  out  a  restless  night,  and  hastened,  early  in  the 
morning,  to  get  rid  of  these  people,  who,  without  know- 
ing it,  had,  by  their  narratives  and  utterances,  been 
constantly  wounding  him  to  the  quick. 

In  a  musing  mood,  he  was  riding  slowly  along,  when 
all  at  once  he  observed  a  number  of  armed  men  com- 
ing through  the  fields.  By  their  long,  loose  coats, 
with  enormous  cuffs ;  by  their  shapeless  hats,  clumsy 
muskets ;  by  their  unpretending  gait,  and  contented 
bearing  of  the  body,  —  he  recognised  in  these  people 
a  detachment  of  provincial  militia.  They  halted  be- 
neath an  old  oak,  set  down  their  firearms,  and  placed 
themselves  at  their  ease  upon  the  sward,  to  smoke  a 
pipe  of  tobacco.  Wilhelm  lingered  near  them,  and 
entered  into  conversation  with  a  young  man  who  came 
up  on  horseback.  The  history  of  the  two  runaways, 
which  he  knew  but  too  well,  was  again  detailed  to  him, 
and  that  with  comments  not  particularly  flattering, 
either  to  the  young  pair  themselves,  or  to  the  parents.. 
He  also  learned  that  the  military  had  come  hither  to 
take  into  custody  the  loving  couple,  who  had  already 
been  seized  and  detained  in  a  neighbouring  village. 
After  some  time,  accordingly,  a  cart  was  seen  advanc- 
ing to  the  place,  encircled  with  a  city  guard  more 
ludicrous  than  appalling.  An  amorphous  town  clerk 
rode  forth,  and  made  his  compliments  to  the  Actuarius 
(for  such  was  the  young  man  Wilhelm  had  been  speak- 
ing to),  on  the  border  of  their  several  districts,  with 
great  conscientiousness  and  queer  giimaces  ;  as  perhaps 
the  ghost  and  the  conjurer  do,  when  they  meet,  the 
one  within  the  circle  and  the  other  out  of  it,  in  their 
dismal  midnight  operations. 

But  the  chief  attention  of  the  lookers-on  was  directed 


56  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

to  the  cart :  they  could  not  behold,  without  compassion, 
the  poor,  misguided  creatures,  who  were  sitting  upon 
bundles  of  straw,  looking  tenderly  at  one  another,  and 
scarcely  seeming  to  observe  the  bystanders.  Accident 
had  forced  their  conductors  to  bring  them  from  the 
last  village  in  that  unseemly  style ;  the  old  chaise, 
which  had  previously  transported  the  lady,  having 
there  broken  down.  On  that  occurrence  she  had 
begged  for  permission  to  sit  beside  her  friend ;  whom, 
in  the  conviction  that  his  crime  was  of  a  capital  sort, 
the  rustic  bailiffs  had  so  far  brought  along  in  irons. 
These  irons  certainly  contributed  to  give  the  tender 
group  a  more  interesting  appearance,  particularly  as 
the  young  man  moved  and  bore  himself  with  great 
dignity,  while  he  kissed  more  than  once  the  hands  of 
his  fair  companion. 

"  We  are  unfortunate,"  she  cried  to  the  bystanders, 
"  but  not  so  guilty  as  we  seem.  It  is  thus  that  cruel 
men  reward  true  love ;  and  parents,  who  entirely 
neglect  the  happiness  of  their  children,  tear  them  with 
fury  from  the  arms  of  joy,  when  it  has  found  them 
after  many  weary  days." 

The  spectators  were  expressing  their  sympathy  in 
various  ways,  when,  the  officers  of  law  having  fin- 
ished their  ceremonial,  the  cart  went  on;  and  Wil- 
helm,  who  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  fate  of  the  lovers, 
hastened  forward  by  a  foot-path  to  get  some  acquaint- 
ance with  the  Amtmann  before  the  procession  should 
arrive.  But  scarcely  had  he  reached  the  Amthaus, 
where  all  was  in  motion,  and  ready  to  receive  the 
fugitives,  when  his  new  friend,  the  Actuarius,  laid  hold 
of  him ;  and  giving  him  a  circumstantial  detail  of  the 
whole  proceedings,  and  then  launching  out  into  a  com- 
prehensive eulogy  of  his  own  horse,  which  he  had  got 
by  barter  the  night  before,  put  a  stop  to  every  other 
sort  of  conversation. 

The  luckless  pair,  in  the  meantime,  had  been  set 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  57 

down  behind,  at  the  garden,  which  communicated  by  a 
little  door  with  the  Amthatis,  and  thus  brought  in 
unobserved.  The  Actuarius,  for  this  mild  and  hand- 
some treatment,  accepted  of  a  just  encomium  from 
Wilhelm ;  though  in  truth  his  sole  object  had  been 
to  mortify  the  crowd  collected  in  front  of  the  Amthaus, 
by  denying  them  the  satisfaction  of  looking  at  a  neigh- 
bour in  disgrace. 

The  Amtmann,  who  had  no  particular  taste  for  such 
extraordinary  occurrences,  being  wont  on  these  occa- 
sions to  commit  frequent  errors,  and,  with  the  best 
intentions,  to  be  often  paid  with  sour  admonitions  from 
the  higher  powers,  went  with  heavy  steps  into  his 
office  room ;  the  Achiarms  with  Wilhelm  and  a  few 
respectable  citizens  following  him. 

The  lady  was  first  produced :  she  advanced  without 
pertness,  calm  and  self-possessed.  The  manner  of  her 
dress,  the  way  in  which  she  bore  herself,  showed  that 
she  was  a  person  not  without  value  in  her  own  eyes. 
She  accordingly  began,  without  any  questions  being 
put,  to  speak,  not  unskilfully,  about  her  situation. 

The  Actuarius  bade  her  be  silent,  and  held  his  pen 
over  the  folded  sheet.  The  Amtmann  gathered  up  his 
resolution,  looked  at  his  assistant,  cleared  his  throat  by 
two  or  three  hems,  and  asked  the  poor  girl  what  was 
her  name,  and  how  old  she  was. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,"  said  she,  "  but  it  seems 
very  strange  to  me  that  you  ask  my  name  and  age, 
seeing  you  know  very  well  what  my  name  is,  and  that 
I  am  just  of  the  age  of  your  oldest  son.  Wliat  you 
do  want  to  know  of  nie,  and  need  to  know,  I  will  tell 
freely  without  cu'cumlocution. 

"  Since  my  father's  second  marriage,  my  situation  in 
his  house  has  not  been  of  the  most  enviable  sort. 
Oftener  than  once  I  have  had  it  in  my  power  to  make 
a  suitable  marriage,  had  not  my  stepmother,  dreading 
the  expense  of  my  portion,  taken  care  to  thwart  all 


58  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

such  proposals.  At  length  I  grew  acquainted  with  the 
young  Melina ;  I  felt  constrained  to  love  him ;  and,  as 
we  both  foresaw  the  obstacles  that  stood  in  the  way  of 
our  regular  union,  we  determined  to  go  forth  together, 
and  seek  in  the  wide  world  the  happiness  denied  us  at 
home.  I  took  nothing  with  me  that  was  not  my  own : 
we  did  not  run  away  hke  thieves  and  robbers ;  and  my 
lover  does  not  merit  to  be  hauled  about  in  this  way, 
with  chains  and  handcuffs.  The  prince  is  just,  and 
will  not  sanction  such  severity.  If  we  are  liable  to 
punishment,  it  is  not  punishment  of  this  kind." 

The  old  Amtmann  hereupon  fell  into  double  and 
treble  confusion.  Sounds  of  the  most  gracious  eulo- 
gies were  already  humming  through  his  brain,  and  the 
girl's  voluble  speech  had  entirely  confounded  the  plan 
of  his  protocol.  The  mischief  increased,  when  to  re- 
peated official  questions  she  refused  giving  any  answer, 
but  constantly  referred  to  what  she  had  already  said. 

"  I  am  no  criminal,"  she  said.  "  They  have  brought 
me  hither  on  bundles  of  straw  to  put  me  to  shame,  but 
there  is  a  higher  court  that  will  bring  us  back  to 
honour." 

The  Actuarius,  in  the  meantime,  had  kept  writing 
down  her  words :  he  whispered  the  Amtmann,  "  just 
to  go  on,  —  a  formal  protocol  might  be  made  out  by 
and  by." 

The  senior  then  again  took  heart,  and  began,  with 
his  heavy  words,  in  dry  prescribed  formulas,  to  seek 
information  about  the  sweet  secrets  of  love. 

The  red  mounted  into  Wilhelm's  cheeks,  and  those 
of  the  pretty  criminal  likewise  glowed  with  the  charm- 
ing tinge  of  modesty.  She  was  silent,  she  stammered, 
till  at  last  her  embarrassment  itself  seemed  to  exalt 
her  courage. 

"  Be  assured,"  she  cried,  "  that  I  should  have  strength 
enough  to  confess  the  truth,  though  it  made  against 
myself;  and  shall  I  now  hesitate  and  stammer,  when 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  59 

it  does  me  honour  ?  Yes :  from  the  moment  when  I 
first  felt  certain  of  his  love  and  faith,  I  looked  upon 
him  as  my  husband ;  I  freely  gave  him  all  that  love 
requires,  —  that  a  heart  once  convinced  cannot  long 
refuse.  Now  do  with  me  what  you  please.  If  I 
hesitated  for  a  moment  to  confess,  it  was  solely  owing 
to  fear  lest  the  admission  might  prove  hurtful  to  my 
lover." 

On  hearing  this  confession,  Wilhelm  formed  a  high 
opinion  of  the  young  woman's  feehngs,  while  her  judges 
marked  her  as  an  impudent  strumpet ;  and  the  towns- 
folk present  thanked  God  that  in  their  families  no  such 
scandal  had  occurred,  or  at  least  been  brought  to  light. 

Wilhelm  transported  his  Mariana  into  this  conjec- 
ture, answering  at  the  bar :  he  put  still  finer  words  in 
her  mouth,  making  her  uprightness  yet  more  affecting, 
her  confession  still  nobler.  The  most  violent  desire 
to  help  the  two  lovers  took  possession  of  him.  Nor 
did  he  conceal  this  feehng,  but  signified  in  private  to 
the  wavering  Anitmann,  that  it  were  better  to  end  the 
business ;  all  being  clear  as  possible,  and  requiring  no 
further  investigation. 

This  was  so  far  of  service  that  the  young  woman 
was  allowed  to  retire ;  though,  in  her  stead,  the  lover 
was  brought  in,  his  fetters  having  previously  been 
taken  off  him  at  the  door.  This  person  seemed  a 
little  more  concerned  about  his  fate.  His  answers 
were  more  careful ;  and,  if  he  showed  less  heroic  gen- 
erosity, he  recommended  himself  by  the  precision  and 
distinctness  of  his  expressions. 

When  this  audience  also  was  finished,  and  found  to 
agree  in  all  points  with  the  former,  except  that,  from 
regard  for  his  mistress,  Melina  stubbornly  denied 
what  had  already  been  confessed  by  herself,  the  young 
woman  was  again  brought  forward ;  and  a  scene  took 
place  between  the  two,  which  made  the  heart  of  our 
friend  entirely  their  own. 


6o  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

What  usually  occurs  nowhere  but  in  romances  and 
plays,  he  saw  here  in  a  paltry  courtroom  before  his 
eyes,  —  the  contest  of  reciprocal  magnanimity,  the 
strength  of  love  in  misfortune. 

"  Is  it,  then,  true,"  said  he  internally,  "  that  timorous 
affection,  which  conceals  itself  from  the  eye  of  the  sun 
and  of  men,  not  daring  to  taste  of  enjoyment  save  in 
remote  solitude  and  deep  secrecy,  yet,  if  torn  rudely  by 
some  cruel  chance  into  light,  will  show  itself  more 
courageous,  strong,  and  resolute  than  any  of  our  loud 
and  ostentatious  passions  ? " 

To  his  comfort,  the  business  now  soon  came  to  a 
conclusion.  The  lovers  were  detained  in  tolerable 
quarters :  had  it  been  possible,  he  would  that  very 
evening  have  brought  back  the  young  lady  to  her 
parents.  For  he  firmly  determined  to  act  as  interces- 
sor in  this  case,  and  to  forward  a  happy  and  lawful 
union  between  the  lovers. 

He  begged  permission  of  the  Amtmann  to  speak  in 
private  with  Melina,  a  request  which  was  gi-anted 
without  difficulty. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

The  conversation  of  these  new  acquaintances  very- 
soon  grew  confidential  and  lively.  When  Wilhelm 
told  the  downcast  youth  of  his  connection  with  the 
lady's  parents,  and  offered  to  mediate  in  the  affair, 
showing  at  the  same  time  the  strongest  expectation  of 
success,  a  light  was  shed  across  the  dreary  and  anxious 
mind  of  the  prisoner :  he  felt  himself  already  free, 
already  reconciled  with  the  parents  of  his  bride,  and 
now  began  to  speak  about  his  future  occupation  and 
support. 

"  On  this  point,"  said  our  friend,  "  you  cannot  long  be 
in  difficulty ;  for  you  seem  to  me  directed,  not  more  by 
your  circumstances  than  by  nature,  to  make  your  for- 
tune in  the  noble  profession  you  have  chosen.  A  pleas- 
ing figure,  a  sonorous  voice,  a  feeling  heart !  Could  an 
actor  be  better  furnished  ?  If  I  can  serve  you  with  a 
few  introductions,  it  will  give  me  the  greatest  pleasure." 

"  I  thank  you  with  all  my  heart,"  replied  the  other, 
"  but  I  shall  hardly  be  able  to  make  use  of  them ;  for 
it  is  my  purpose,  if  possible,  not  to  return  to  the 
stage." 

"  Here  you  are  certainly  to  blame,"  said  Wilhelm, 
after  a  pause,  during  which  he  had  partly  recovered 
out  of  his  astonishment ;  for  it  had  never  once  entered 
his  head,  but  that  the  player,  the  moment  his  young 
wife  and  he  were  out  of  durance,  would  repair  to  some 
theatre.  It  seemed  to  him  as  natural  and  as  necessary 
as  for  the  frog  to  seek  pools  of  water.  He  had  not 
doubted  of  it  for  a  moment,  and  he  now  heard  the 
contrary  with  boundless  surprise. 

6i 


62  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

"  Yes,"  replied  Melina,  "  I  have  it  in  view  not  to  re- 
appear upon  the  stage,  but  rather  to  take  up  some  civil 
calling,  be  it  what  it  will,  so  that  I  can  but  obtain  one." 

"  This  is  a  strange  resolution,  which  I  cannot  give 
my  approbation  to.  Without  especial  reasons,  it  can 
never  be  advisable  to  change  the  mode  of  life  we  have 
begun  with ;  and,  besides,  I  know  of  no  condition  that 
presents  so  much  allurement,  so  many  charming  pros- 
pects, as  the  condition  of  an  actor." 

"  It  is  easy  to  .see  that  you  have  never  been  one," 
said  the  other. 

"  Alas,  sir,"  answered  Wilhelm,  "  how  seldom  is  any 
man  contented  with  the  station  where  he  happens  to 
be  placed !  He  is  ever  coveting  that  of  his  neighbour, 
from  which  the  neighbour  in  his  turn  is  longing  to  be 
free." 

"  Yet  still  there  is  a  difference,"  said  Melina,  "  be- 
tween bad  and  worse.  Experience,  not  impatience, 
makes  me  determine  as  you  see.  Is  there  in  the  world 
any  creature  whose  morsel  of  bread  is  attended  with 
such  vexation,  uncertainty,  and  toil  ?  It  were  almost 
as  good  to  take  the  staff  and  wallet,  and  beg  from 
door  to  door.  What  things  to  be  endured  from  the 
envy  of  rivals,  from  the  partiality  of  managers,  from 
the  ever  altering  caprices  of  the  public !  In  truth, 
one  would  need  to  have  a  hide  like  a  bear's,  that  is 
led  about  in  a  chain  along  with  apes,  and  dogs  of 
knowledge,  and  cudgelled  into  dancing  at  the  sound 
of  a  bagpipe  before  the  populace  and  children." 

Wilhelm  thought  a  thousand  things,  which  he  would 
not  vex  the  worthy  man  by  uttering.  He  merely, 
therefore,  led  the  conversation  round  them  at  a  dis- 
tance. His  friend  explained  himself  the  more  candidly 
and  circumstantially  on  that  account.  "  Is  not  the 
manager  obliged,"  said  he,  "  to  fall  down  at  the  feet  of 
every  little  Stacltrath,  that  he  may  get  permission,  for 
a  month  between  the  fairs,  to  cause  another  groschen 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  63 

or  two  to  circulate  in  the  place  ?  Ours,  on  the  whole, 
a  worthy  man,  I  have  often  pitied ;  though  at  other 
times  he  gave  me  cause  enough  for  discontentment. 
A  good  actor  drains  him  by  extortion ;  of  the  bad  he 
cannot  rid  himself;  and,  should  he  try  to  make  his 
income  at  all  equal  to  his  outlay,  the  public  immedi- 
ately takes  umbrage,  the  house  stands  empty  ;  and,  not 
to  go  to  wi-eck  entirely,  he  must  continue  acting  in  the 
midst  of  sorrow  and  vexation.  No,  no,  sir !  Since 
you  are  so  good  as  to  undertake  to  help  me,  have  the 
kindness,  I  entreat  you,  to  plead  with  the  parents  of 
my  bride:  let  them  get  me  a  little  post  of  clerk  or 
collector,  and  I  shall  think  myself  well  dealt  with." 

After  exchanging  a  few  words  more,  Wilhelm  went 
away  with  the  promise  to  visit  the  parents  early  in 
the  morning,  and  see  what  could  be  done.  Scarcely 
was  he  by  himself,  when  he  gave  utterance  to  his 
thoughts  in  these  exclamations :  "  Unhappy  Melina ! 
not  in  thy  condition,  but  in  thyself,  lies  the  mean  im- 
pediment over  which  thou  canst  not  gain  the  mastery. 
What  mortal  in  the  world,  if  without  inward  calling  he 
takes  up  a  trade,  an  art,  or  any  mode  of  life,  will  not  feel 
his  situation  miserable  ?  But  he  who  is  born  with  ca- 
pacities for  any  undertaking,  finds  in  executing  this  the 
fairest  portion  of  his  being.  Nothing  upon  earth  with- 
out its  difficulties  !  It  is  the  secret  impulse  within,  it  is 
the  love  and  the  delight  we  feel,  that  help  us  to  con- 
quer obstacles,  to  clear  out  new  paths,  and  to  overleap 
the  bounds  of  that  narrow  circle  in  which  others 
poorly  toil.  For  thee  the  stage  is  but  a  few  boards : 
the  parts  assigned  thee  are  but  what  a  task  is  to  a 
schoolboy.  The  spectators  thou  regardest  as  on  work- 
days they  regard  each  other.  For  thee,  then,  it  may 
be  well  to  wish  thyself  behind  a  desk,  over  ruled 
ledgers,  collecting  tolls,  and  picking  out  reversions. 
Thou  feelest  not  the  cooperating,  co-inspiring  whole, 
which  the  mind   alone  can  invent,   comprehend,  and 


64  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

complete :  thou  feelest  not  that  in  man  there  lives  a 
spark  of  purer  fire,  which,  when  it  is  not  fed,  when  it 
is  not  fanned,  gets  covered  by  the  ashes  of  indifference 
and  daily  wants,  yet  not  till  late,  perhaps  never,  can 
be  altogether  quenched.  Thou  feelest  in  thy  soul  no 
strength  to  fan  this  spark  into  a  flame,  no  riches  in 
thy  heart  to  feed  it  when  aroused.  Hunger  drives 
thee  on,  inconveniences  withstand  thee ;  and  it  is  hid- 
den from  thee,  that,  in  every  human  condition,  foes  lie 
in  wait  for  us,  invincible  except  by  cheerfulness  and 
equanimity.  Thou  dost  well  to  wish  thyself  within 
the  limits  of  a  common  station,  for  what  station  that 
required  soul  and  resolution  couldst  thou  rightly  fill  ? 
Give  a  soldier,  a  statesman,  a  divine,  thy  sentiments, 
and  as  justly  will  he  fret  himself  about  the  miseries  of 
his  condition.  Nay,  have  there  not  been  men  so 
totally  forsaken  by  all  feehng  of  existence,  that  they 
have  held  the  life  and  nature  of  mortals  as  a  nothing, 
a  painful,  short,  and  tarnished  gleam  of  being  ?  Did 
the  forms  of  active  men  rise  up  living  in  thy  soul; 
were  thy  breast  warmed  by  a  sympathetic  fire ;  did 
the  vocation  which  proceeds  from  within  diffuse  itself 
over  all  thy  frame ;  were  the  tones  of  thy  voice,  the 
words  of  thy  mouth,  delightful  to  hear ;  didst  thou  feel 
thy  own  being  sufficient  for  thyself,  —  then  wouldst 
thou  doubtless  seek  place  and  opportunity  likewise  to 
feel  it  in  others." 

Amid  such  words  and  thoughts,  our  friend  undressed 
himself,  and  went  to  bed,  with  feelings  of  the  deepest 
satisfaction.  A  whole  romance  of  what  he  now  hoped 
to  do,  instead  of  the  worthless  occupations  which 
should  have  filled  the  approaching  day,  arose  within 
his  mind :  pleasant  fantasies  softly  conducted  him 
into  the  kingdom  of  sleep,  and  then  gave  him  up  to 
their  sisters,  sweet  dreams,  who  received  him  with 
open  arms,  and  encircled  his  reposing  head  vnth  the 
images  of  heaven. 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  65 

Early  in  the  morning  he  was  awake  again,  and 
thinking  of  the  business  that  lay  before  him.  He 
revisited  the  house  of  the  forsaken  family,  where  his 
presence  caused  no  small  surprise.  He  introduced  his 
proposal  in  the  most  prudent  manner,  and  soon  found 
both  more  and  fewer  difhculties  than  he  had  antici- 
pated. For  one  thing,  the  evil  was  already  done :  and 
though  people  of  a  singularly  strict  and  harsh  temper 
are  wont  to  set  themselves  forcibly  against  the  past, 
and  thus  to  increase  the  evil  that  cannot  now  be 
remedied ;  yet,  on  the  other  hand,  what  is  actually 
done  exerts  an  irresistible  effect  upon  most  minds :  an 
event  which  lately  appeared  impossible  takes  its  place, 
so  soon  as  it  has  really  occurred,  with  what  occurs 
daily.  It  was  accordingly  soon  settled,  that  Herr 
Melina  was  to  wed  the  daughter;  who,  however,  in 
return,  because  of  her  misconduct,  was  to  take  no  mar- 
riage portion  with  her,  and  to  promise  that  she  would 
leave  her  aunt's  legacy,  for  a  few  years  more,  at  an 
easy  interest,  in  her  father's  hands.  But  the  second 
point,  touching  a  civil  provision  for  Melina,  was  at- 
tended with  greater  difficulties.  They  liked  not  to 
have  the  luckless  pah'  continually  living  in  their 
sight :  they  would  not  have  a  present  object  ever  call- 
ing to  their  minds  the  connection  of  a  mean  vagabond 
with  so  respectable  a  family,  —  a  family  which  could 
number  even  a  superintendent  among  its  relatives ; 
nay,  it  was  not  to  be  looked  for,  that  the  government 
would  trust  him  with  a  charge.  Both  parents  were 
ahke  inflexible  in  this  matter ;  and  Wilhelm,  who 
pleaded  very  hard,  unwilling  that  a  man  whom  he  con- 
temned should  return  to  the  stage,  and  convinced  that 
he  deserved  not  such  a  happiness,  could  not,  with  all 
his  rhetoric,  produce  the  slenderest  impression.  Had 
he  known  the  secret  springs  of  the  business,  he  would 
have  spared  himself  the  labour  of  attempting  to  per- 
suade.    The  father  would  gladly  have  kept  his  daugh- 


66  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

ter  near  him ;  but  he  hated  the  young  man,  because 
his  wife  herself  had  cast  an  eye  upon  him :  while  the 
latter  could  not  bear  to  have,  in  her  stepdaughter,  a 
rival  constantly  before  her  eyes.  So  Melina  with  his 
young  wife,  who  already  manifested  no  disHke  to  go 
and  see  the  world,  and  be  seen  of  it,  was  obliged, 
against  his  will,  to  set  forth  in  a  few  days,  and  seek 
some  place  in  any  acting  company  where  he  could 
find  one. 


CHAPTEE   XV. 

Happy  season  of  youth !  Happy  times  of  the  first 
wish  of  love !  A  man  is  then  hke  a  child  that  can  for 
hours  delight  itself  with  an  echo,  can  support  alone  the 
charges  of  conversation,  and  be  well  contented  with 
its  entertainment,  if  the  unseen  interlocutor  wdll  but 
repeat  the  concluding  syllables  of  the  words  addressed 
to  it. 

So  was  it  with  Wilhelm  in  the  earlier  and  still  more 
in  the  later  period  of  his  passion  for  Mariana ;  he 
transferred  the  whole  wealth  of  his  own  emotions  to 
her,  and  looked  upon  himself  as  a  beggar  that  lived 
upon  her  alms :  and  as  a  landscape  is  more  dehghtful, 
nay,  is  delightful  only,  when  it  is  enlightened  by  the 
sun ;  so  hkewise  in  his  eyes  were  all  things  beautified 
and  glorified  which  lay  round  her  or  related  to  her. 

Often  would  he  stand  in  the  theatre  behind  the 
scenes,  to  which  he  had  obtained  the  freedom  of  access 
from  the  manager.  In  such  cases,  it  is  true,  the  per- 
spective magic  was  away ;  but  the  far  mightier  sorcery 
of  love  then  first  began  to  act.  For  hours  he  could 
stand  by  the  sooty  light-frame,  inhaling  the  vapour  of 
tallow  lamps,  looking  out  at  his  mistress ;  and  when 
she  returned,  and  cast  a  kindly  glance  upon  him,  he 
could  feel  himself  lost  in  ecstasy ;  and,  though  close 
upon  laths  and  bare  spars,  he  seemed  transported  into 
paradise.  The  stuffed  bunches  of  wool  denominated 
lambs,  the  waterfalls  of  tin,  the  paper  roses,  and  the 
one-sided  huts  of  straw,  awoke  in  him  fair  poetic 
visions  of  an  old  pastoral  world.  Nay,  the  very  danc- 
ing-gMs,  ugly  as  they  were  when  seen  at  hand,  did  not 

67 


68  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

always  inspire  him  with  disgust :  they  trod  the  same 
floor  with  Mariana.  So  true  is  it,  that  love,  which 
alone  can  give  their  full  charm  to  rose-bowers,  myrtle- 
groves,  and  moonshine,  can  also  communicate,  even  to 
shavings  of  wood,  and  paper-clippings,  the  aspect  of 
animated  nature.  It  is  so  strong  a  spice,  that  tasteless 
or  even  nauseous  soups  are  by  it  rendered  palatable. 

So  potent  a  spice  was  certainly  required  to  render 
tolerable,  nay,  at  last  agi-eeable,  the  state  in  which  he 
usually  found  her  chamber,  not  to  say  herself. 

Brought  up  in  a  substantial  burgher's  house,  cleanli- 
ness and  order  were  the  elements  in  which  he  breathed ; 
and,  inheriting  as  he  did  a  portion  of  his  father's  taste 
for  finery,  it  had  always  been  his  care,  in  boyhood,  to 
furbish  up  his  chamber,  which  he  regarded  as  his  little 
kingdom,  in  the  statehest  fashion.  His  bed-curtains 
were  drawn  together  in  large,  massy  folds,  and  fastened 
with  tassels,  as  they  are  usually  seen  in  thrones ;  he 
had  got  himself  a  carpet  for  the  middle  of  his  chamber, 
and  a  finer  one  for  his  table ;  his  books  and  apparatus 
he  had,  almost  instinctively,  arranged  in  such  a  man- 
ner, that  a  Dutch  painter  might  have  imitated  them 
for  gi'oups  in  his  still-life  scenes.  He  had  a  white  cap, 
which  he  wore  straight  up  like  a  turban ;  and  the 
sleeves  of  his  nightgown  he  had  caused  to  be  cut  short, 
in  the  mode  of  the  Orientals.  By  way  of  reason  for 
this,  he  pretended  that  long,  wide  sleeves  encumbered 
him  in  writing.  When,  at  night,  the  boy  was  quite 
alone,  and  no  longer  dreaded  any  interruption,  he 
usually  wore  a  silk  sash  tied  round  his  body :  and 
often,  it  is  said,  he  would  fix  in  his  girdle  a  sword, 
which  he  had  appropriated  from  an  old  armory,  and 
thus  repeat  and  declaim  his  tragic  parts ;  nay,  in  the 
same  trim  he  would  kneel  down  and  say  his  evening 
prayer. 

In  those  times,  how  happy  did  he  think  the  players, 
whom  he  saw  possessed  of  so  many  splendid  garments. 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  69 

trappings,  and  arms ;  and  in  the  constant  practice  of  a 
lofty  demeanour,  the  spirit  of  which  seemed  to  hold  up 
a  mirror  of  whatever,  in  the  opinions,  relations,  and 
passions  of  men,  was  stateliest  and  most  magnificent. 
Of  a  piece  with  this,  thought  Wilhelm,  is  also  the 
player's  domestic  life,  —  a  series  of  dignified  transac- 
tions and  employments,  whereof  their  appearance  on 
the  stage  is  but  the  outmost  portion  ;  like  as  a  mass  of 
silver,  long  simmering  about  in  the  purifying  furnace, 
at  length  gleams  with  a  bright  and  beautiful  tinge  in 
the  eye  of  the  refiner,  and  shows  him,  at  the  same  time, 
that  the  metal  now  is  cleansed  of  all  foreign  mixture. 

Great,  accordingly,  was  his  surprise  at  first,  when  he 
found  himself  beside  his  mistress,  and  looked  down, 
through  the  cloud  that  environed  him,  on  tables,  stools, 
and  floor.  The  wrecks  of  a  transient,  light,  and  false 
decoration  lay,  like  the  glittering  coat  of  a  skinned 
fish,  dispersed  in  wild  disorder.  The  implements  of 
personal  cleanliness,  —  combs,  soap,  towels,  —  with  the 
traces  of  their  use,  were  not  concealed.  Music,  por- 
tions of  plays  and  pairs  of  shoes,  washes  and  Italian 
flowers,  pincushions,  hair-skewers,  rouge-pots,  and  rib- 
bons, books  and  straw  hats,  —  no  article  despised  the 
neighbourhood  of  another :  all  were  united  by  a  com- 
mon element,  —  powder  and  dust.  Yet  as  Wilhelm 
scarcely  noticed  in  her  presence  aught  except  herself ; 
nay,  as  all  that  had  belonged  to  her,  that  she  had 
touched,  was  dear  to  him,  —  he  came  at  last  to  feel, 
in  this  chaotic  housekeeping,  a  charm  which  the  proud 
pomp  of  his  own  habitation  never  had  communicated. 
When,  on  this  hand,  he  lifted  aside  her  bodice,  to  get 
at  the  harpsichord  ;  on  that,  threw  her  gown  upon  the 
bed,  that  he  might  find  a  seat ;  when  she  herself,  with 
careless  freedom,  did  not  seek  to  hide  from  him  many 
a  natural  office,  which,  out  of  respect  for  the  presence 
of  a  second  person,  is  usually  concealed,  —  he  felt  as 
if  by   all  this  he  was  coming    nearer  to   her  every 


70  MEISTER'S   APPRENTICESHIP 

moment,  as  if  the  communion  betwixt  them  was 
fastening  by  invisible  ties. 

It  was  not  so  easy  to  reconcile  with  his  previous 
ideas  the  behaviour  of  the  other  players,  whom,  on  his 
first  visits,  he  often  met  with  in  her  house.  Ever 
busied  in  being  idle,  they  seemed  to  think  least  of  all 
on  their  employment  and  object :  the  poetic  worth  of 
a  piece  they  were  never  heard  to  speak  of,  or  to  judge 
of,  right  or  wTong ;  their  continual  question  was  simply. 
How  much  will  it  bring  ?  Is  it  a  stock-piece  ?  How 
long  will  it  run  ?  How  often  think  you  it  may  be 
played  ?  and  other  inquiries  and  observations  of  the 
same  description.  Then  commonly  they  broke  out 
against  the  manager,  that  he  was  stinted  ^vith  his 
salaries,  and  especially  unjust  to  this  one  or  to  that ; 
then  against  the  public,  how  seldom  it  recompensed 
the  right  man  with  its  approval,  how  the  German 
theatre  was  daily  improving,  how  the  player  was  ever 
growing  more  honoured,  and  never  could  be  honoured 
enough.  Then  they  would  descant  largely  about  wine- 
gardens  and  coffee-houses ;  how  much  debt  one  of  their 
comrades  had  contracted,  and  must  suffer  a  deduction 
from  his  wages  on  account  of ;  about  the  disproportion 
of  their  weekly  salaries ;  about  the  cabals  of  some 
rival  company :  on  which  occasions,  they  would  pass 
again  to  the  gi'eat  and  merited  attention  which  the 
public  now  bestowed  upon  them ;  not  forgetting 
the  importance  of  the  theatre  to  the  improvement 
of  the  nation  and  the  world. 

All  this,  which  had  already  given  Wilhelm  many  a 
restless  hour,  came  again  into  his  memory,  as  he 
walked  his  horse  slowly  homewards,  and  contemplated 
the  various  occurrences  in  which  he  had  so  lately  been 
engaged.  The  commotion  produced  by  a  girl's  elope- 
ment, not  only  in  a  decent  family,  but  in  a  whole 
town,  he  had  seen  with  his  own  eyes :  the  scenes  upon 
the  highway  and  in  the  Amthaus,  the  views  enter- 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  71 

tained  by  Meliua,  and  whatever  else  he  had  witnessed, 
again  arose  before  him,  and  brought  his  keen,  forecast- 
ing mind  into  a  sort  of  anxious  disquietude ;  which  no 
longer  to  endure,  he  struck  the  spurs  into  his  horse, 
and  hastened  toward  home. 

By  this  expedient,  however,  he  but  ran  to  meet  new 
vexations.  Werner,  his  friend  and  future  brother-in- 
law,  was  waiting  for  him,  to  begin  a  serious,  important, 
unexpected  conversation. 

Werner  was  one  of  those  tried,  sedate  persons,  with 
fixed  principles  and  habits,  whom  we  usually  denom- 
inate cold  characters,  because  on  emergencies  they  do 
not  burst  forth  quickly  or  very  visibly.  Accordingly, 
his  intercourse  with  Wilhelm  was  a  perpetual  contest ; 
which,  however,  only  served  to  knit  their  mutual  aftec- 
tion  the  more  firmly ;  for,  notwithstanding  their  very 
opposite  modes  of  thinking,  each  found  his  account  in 
communicating  with  the  other.  Werner  was  very  well 
contented  with  himself,  that  he  could  now  and  then 
lay  a  bridle  on  the  exalted  but  commonly  extravagant 
spirit  of  his  friend ;  and  Wilhelm  often  felt  a  glorious 
triumph,  when  the  staid  and  thinking  Werner  could 
be  hurried  on  with  him  in  warm  ebullience.  Thus 
each  exercised  himself  upon  the  other ;  they  had  been 
accustomed  to  see  each  other  daily ;  and  you  would 
have  said,  their  eagerness  to  meet  and  talk  together 
had  even  been  augmented  by  the  inability  of  each  to 
understand  the  other.  At  bottom,  however,  being  both 
good-hearted  men,  they  were  both  travelling  together 
toward  one  goal ;  and  they  could  never  understand 
how  it  was  that  neither  of  the  two  could  bring  the 
other  over  to  his  own  persuasion. 

For  some  time  Werner  had  observed  that  Wilhelm's 
visits  had  been  rarer ;  that  in  his  favourite  discussions 
he  was  brief  and  absent-minded ;  that  he  no  longer 
abandoned  himself  to  the  vivid  depicting  of  singular 
conceptions,  —  tokens  by  which,  in  truth,  a  mind  get- 


72  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

ting  rest  and  contentment  in  the  presence  of  a  friend 
is  most  clearly  indicated.  The  considerate  and  punc- 
tual Werner  first  sought  for  the  root  of  the  evil  in  his 
own  conduct ;  till  some  rumours  of  the  neighbourhood 
set  him  on  the  proper  trace,  and  some  unguarded  pro- 
ceedings on  the  part  of  Wilhelm  brought  him  nearer  to 
the  certainty.  He  began  his  investigation,  and  erelong 
discovered,  that  for  some  time  Wilhelm  had  been  openly 
visiting  an  actress,  had  often  spoken  with  her  at  the 
theatre,  and  accompanied  her  home.  On  discovering 
the  nightly  visits  of  his  friend,  Werner's  anxiety 
increased  to  a  painful  extent:  for  he  heard  that 
Mariana  was  a  most  seductive  girl,  who  probably  was 
draining  the  youth  of  his  money ;  while,  at  the  same 
time,  she  herself  was  supported  by  another  and  a  very 
worthless  lover. 

Having  pushed  his  suspicions  as  near  certainty  as 
possible,  he  had  resolved  to  make  a  sharp  attack  on 
Wilhelm :  he  was  now  in  full  readiness  with  all  his 
preparations,  when  his  friend  returned,  discontented 
and  unsettled,  from  his  journey. 

That  very  evening  Werner  laid  the  whole  of  what  he 
knew  before  him,  first  calmly,  then  with  the  emphatic 
earnestness  of  a  well-meaning  friendship.  He  left  no 
point  of  the  subject  undiscussed,  and  made  Wilhelm 
taste  abundance  of  those  bitter  things  which  men  at 
ease  are  accustomed,  with  virtuous  spite,  to  dispense 
so  liberally  to  men  in  love.  Yet,  as  might  have 
been  expected,  he  accomplished  little.  Wilhelm  an- 
swered with  interior  commotion,  though  with  great 
confidence,  "  You  know  not  the  girl !  Appearances, 
perhaps,  are  not  to  her  advantage ;  but  I  am  certain 
of  her  faithfulness  and  virtue,  as  of  my  love." 

Werner  maintained  his  accusations,  and  offered  to 
bring  proofs  and  witnesses.  Wilhelm  waived  these 
offers,  and  parted  with  his  friend  out  of  humour  and 
unhinged,  like   a   man   in   whose  jaw  some  unskilful 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  73 

dentist  has  been  seizing  a  diseased,  yet  fast-rooted, 
tooth,  and  tugging  at  it  harshly  to  no  purpose. 

It  exceedingly  dissatisfied  Wilhelm  to  see  the  fair 
image  of  Mariana  overclouded  and  almost  deformed  in 
his  soul,  first  by  the  capricious  fancies  of  his  journey, 
and  then  by  the  unfriendliness  of  Werner.  He  adopted 
the  surest  means  of  restoring  it  to  complete  brilhancy 
and  beauty,  by  setting  out  at  night,  and  hastening  to 
his  wonted  destination.  She  received  him  with  extreme 
joy :  on  entering  the  town,  he  had  ridden  past  her 
window ;  she  had  been  expecting  his  company ;  and  it 
is  easy  to  conceive  that  all  scruples  were  soon  driven 
from  his  heart.  Nay,  her  tenderness  again  opened  up 
the  whole  stores  of  his  confidence ;  and  he  told  her 
how  deeply  the  pubhc,  how  deeply  his  friend,  had 
sinned  against  her. 

Much  lively  talking  led  them  at  length  to  speak 
about  the  earhest  period  of  their  acquaintance,  the 
recollection  of  which  forms  always  one  of  the  most 
delightful  topics  between  two  lovers.  The  first  steps 
that  introduce  us  to  the  enchanted  garden  of  love  are 
so  full  of  pleasure,  the  first  prospects  so  charming,  that 
every  one  is  willing  to  recall  them  to  his  memory. 
Each  party  seeks  a  preference  above  the  other;  each 
has  loved  sooner,  more  devotedly ;  and  each,  in  this 
contest,  would  rather  be  conquered  than  conquer. 

Wilhelm  repeated  to  his  mistress,  what  he  had  so 
often  told  her  before,  how  she  soon  abstracted  his 
attention  from  the  play,  and  fixed  it  on  herself ;  how 
her  form,  her  acting,  her  voice,  inspired  him ;  how  at 
last  he  went  only  on  the  nights  when  she  was  to 
appear ;  how,  in  fine,  having  ventured  behind  the 
scenes,  he  had  often  stood  by  her  unheeded ;  and  he 
spoke  with  rapture  of  the  happy  evening  when  he 
found  an  opportunity  to  do  her  some  civility,  and  lead 
her  into  conversation. 

Mariana,  on  the  other  hand,  would  not  allow  that 


74  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

she  had  failed  so  long  to  notice  him :  she  declared 
that  she  had  seen  him  in  the  public  walk,  and  for 
proof  she  described  the  clothes  which  he  wore  on  that 
occasion ;  she  affirmed  that  even  then  he  pleased 
her  before  all  others,  and  made  her  long  for  his 
acquaintance. 

How  gladly  did  Wilhelm  credit  all  this !  How 
gladly  did  he  catch  at  the  persuasion,  that,  when  he 
used  to  approach  her,  she  had  felt  herself  drawn 
toward  him  by  some  resistless  influence ;  that  she  had 
gone  with  him  between  the  side-scenes  on  purpose  to 
see  him  more  closely,  and  get  acquainted  with  him ;  and 
that,  in  fine,  when  his  backwardness  and  modesty 
were  not  to  be  conquered,  she  had  herself  afforded  him 
an  opportunity,  and,  as  it  were,  compelled  him  to 
hand  her  a  glass  of  lemonade. 

In  this  affectionate  contest,  which  they  pursued 
through  all  the  little  circumstances  of  then-  brief 
romance,  the  hours  passed  rapidly  away ;  and  Wil- 
helm left  his  mistress  with  his  heart  at  peace,  and 
firmly  determined  on  proceeding  forthwith  to  the  exe- 
cution of  his  project. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

The  necessary  preparations  for  his  journey  his  father 
and  mother  had  attended  to :  some  httle  matters  that 
were  yet  wanting  to  his  equipage,  delayed  his  depar- 
ture for  a  few  days.  Wilhelm  took  advantage  of  this 
opportunity  to  write  to  Mariana,  meaning  thus  to 
bring  to  a  decision  the  proposal,  about  which  she  had 
hitherto  avoided  speaking  with  him.  The  letter  was 
as  follows : 

"  Under  the  kind  veil  of  night,  which  has  often  over- 
shadowed us  together,  I  sit  and  think,  and  write  to 
thee:  all  that  I  meditate  and  do  is  solely  on  thy 
account.  0  Mariana !  with  me,  the  happiest  of  men, 
it  is  as  with  a  bridegroom  who  stands  in  the  festive 
chamber,  dreaming  of  the  new  universe  that  is  to  be 
unfolded  to  him,  and  by  means  of  him,  and,  while  the 
holy  ceremonies  are  proceeding,  transports  himself  in 
longing  thought  before  the  mysterious  curtains,  from 
which  the  loveliness  of  love  whispers  out  to  him. 

"  I  have  constrained  myself  not  to  see  thee  for  a 
few  days :  the  sacrifice  was  easy,  when  united  with 
the  hope  of  such  a  recompense,  of  being  always  with 
thee,  of  remaining  ever  thine  !  Need  I  repeat  what  I 
desire  ?  I  must !  for  it  seems  as  if  yet  thou  hadst 
never  understood  me. 

"How  often,  in  the  low  tones  of  true  love,  which, 
though  wishing  to  gain  all,  dares  speak  but  little,  have 
I  sought  in  thy  heart  for  the  desire  of  a  perpetual 
union.  Thou  hast  understood  me,  doubtless ;  for  in 
thy  own  heart  the  same  wish  must  have  arisen :  thou 
didst  comprehend  me,  in  that  kiss,  in  the  intoxicating 

75 


76  MEISTER'S  APPRENTICESHIP 

peace  of  that  happy  evening.  Thy  silence  testified  to 
me  thy  modest  honour ;  and  how  did  it  increase  my 
love !  Another  woman  would  have  had  recourse  to 
artifice,  that  she  might  ripen  by  superfluous  sunshine 
the  purpose  of  her  lover's  heart,  might  ehcit  a  proposal, 
and  secure  a  firm  promise.  Mariana,  on  the  contrary, 
drew  back :  she  repelled  the  half-opened  confidence  of 
him  she  loved,  and  sought  to  conceal  her  approving 
feelings  by  apparent  indifference.  But  I  have  under- 
stood thee !  What  a  miserable  creature  must  I  be,  if 
I  did  not  by  these  tokens  recognise  the  pure  and  gen- 
erous love  that  cares  not  for  itself,  but  for  its  object ! 
Confide  in  me,  and  fear  nothing.  We  belong  to  one 
another ;  and  neither  of  us  leaves  aught  or  forsakes 
aught,  if  we  live  for  one  another. 

"  Take  it,  then,  this  hand !  Solemnly  I  offer  this 
unnecessary  pledge !  All  the  joys  of  love  we  have 
already  felt,  but  there  is  a  new  blessedness  in  the  firm 
thought  of  duration.  Ask  not  how,  —  care  not.  Fate 
takes  care  of  love,  and  the  more  certainly  as  love  is 
easy  to  provide  for. 

"  My  heart  has  long  ago  forsaken  my  paternal  home  : 
it  is  with  thee,  as  my  spirit  hovers  on  the  stage.  O 
my  darling !  to  what  other  man  has  it  been  given  to 
unite  all  his  wishes,  as  it  is  to  me  ?  No  sleep  falls 
upon  my  eyes :  Hke  the  redness  of  an  everlasting  dawn, 
thy  love  and  thy  happiness  still  glow  around  me. 

"  Scarcely  can  I  hold  myself  from  springing  up, 
from  rushing  forth  to  thee,  and  forcing  thy  consent, 
and,  with  the  first  light  of  to-morrow,  pressing  forward 
into  the  world  for  the  mark  I  aim  at.  But,  no !  I  will 
restrain  myself ;  I  will  not  act  like  a  thoughtless  fool, 
will  do  nothing  rashly :  my  plan  is  laid,  and  I  will 
execute  it  calmly. 

"  I  am  acquainted  with  the  Manager  Serlo :  my 
journey  leads  me  directly  to  the  place  where  he  is. 
For  above  a  year  he  has  frequently  been  wishing  that 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  77 

his  people  had  a  touch  of  my  vivacity,  and  my  delight 
in  theatrical  affairs :  I  shall  doubtless  be  very  kindly 
received.  Into  your  company  I  cannot  enter,  for  more 
than  one  reason.  Serlo's  theatre,  moreover,  is  at  such 
a  distance  fi-om  this,  that  I  may  there  begin  my  under- 
taking without  any  apprehension  of  discovery.  With 
him  I  shall  thus  at  once  find  a  tolerable  maintenance : 
I  shall  look  about  me  in  the  public,  get  acquainted 
with  the  company,  and  then  come  back  for  thee. 

"  Mariana,  thou  seest  what  I  can  force  myself  to  do, 
that  I  may  certainly  obtain  thee.  I'or  such  a  period 
not  to  see  thee ;  for  such  a  period  to  know  thee  in 
the  wide  world !  I  dare  not  view  it  closely.  But  yet 
if  I  recall  to  memory  thy  love,  which  assures  me  of 
all ;  if  thou  shalt  not  disdain  my  prayer,  and  give 
me,  ere  we  part,  thy  hand,  before  the  priest,  —  I 
may  then  depart  in  peace.  It  is  but  a  form  between 
us,  yet  a  form  so  touching,  —  the  blessing  of  Heaven 
to  the  blessing  of  the  earth.  Close  by  thy  house,  in 
the  Ritterschaftliche  Chapel,  the  ceremony  will  be 
soon  and  secretly  performed. 

"  For  the  beginning  I  have  gold  enough ;  we  will 
share  it  between  us ;  it  will  suffice  for  both ;  and, 
before  that  is  finished.  Heaven  will  send  us  more. 

"  No,  my  darhng,  I  am  not  downcast  about  the 
issue.  What  is  begun  with  so  much  cheerfulness 
must  reach  a  happy  end.  I  have  never  doubted  that 
a  man  may  force  his  way  through  the  world,  if  he 
really  is  in  earnest  about  it ;  and  I  feel  strength 
enough  within  me  to  provide  a  liberal  support  for 
two,  and  many  more.  The  world,  we  are  often  told, 
is  unthankful :  I  have  never  yet  discovered  that  it 
was  unthankful,  if  one  knew  how,  in  the  proper  way, 
to  do  it  service.  My  whole  soul  burns  at  the  idea, 
that  I  shall  at  length  step  forth,  and  speak  to  the 
hearts  of  men  something  they  have  long  been  yearn- 
ing to  hear.     How  many  thousand  times  has  a  feeling 


78  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

of  disgust  passed  through  me,  ahve  as  I  am  to  the 
nobleness  of  the  stage,  when  I  have  seen  the  poorest 
creatures  fancying  they  could  speak  a  word  of  power 
to  the  hearts  of  the  people !  The  tone  of  a  man's 
voice  singing  treble  sounds  far  pleasanter  and  purer 
to  my  ear;  it  is  incredible  how  these  blockheads,  in 
their  coarse  ineptitude,  deform  things  beautiful  and 
venerable. 

"The  theatre  has  often  been  at  variance  with  the 
pulpit :  they  ought  not,  I  think,  to  quarrel.  How 
much  is  it  to  be  wished,  that  in  both  the  celebration 
of  nature  and  of  God  were  entrusted  to  none  but  men 
of  noble  minds !  These  are  no  dreams,  my  darling ! 
As  I  have  felt  in  thy  heart  that  thou  couldst  love, 
I  seize  the  dazzhng  thought,  and  say,  —  no,  I  will  not 
say,  but  I  will  hope  and  trust,  —  that  we  two  shall 
yet  appear  to  men  as  a  pair  of  chosen  spirits,  to  unlock 
their  hearts,  to  touch  the  recesses  of  their  nature,  and 
prepare  for  them  celestial  joys,  as  surely  as  the  joys 
I  have  tasted  with  thee  deserved  to  be  named  celestial, 
since  they  drew  us  from  ourselves,  and  exalted  us 
above  ourselves. 

"  I  cannot  end.  I  have  already  said  too  much,  and 
know  not  whether  I  have  yet  said  all,  all  that  con- 
cerns thy  interests ;  for  to  express  the  agitations  of  the 
vortex  that  w^hirls  round  within  myself,  is  beyond 
the  power  of  words. 

"  Yet  take  this  sheet,  my  love !  I  have  again  read 
it  over:  I  observe  it  ought  to  have  begun  more  cau- 
tiously ;  but  it  contains  in  it  all  that  thou  hast  need 
to  know,  —  enough  to  prepare  thee  for  the  hour  when 
I  shall  return  with  the  lightness  of  love  to  thy  bosom. 
I  seem  to  myself  like  a  prisoner  that  is  secretly  filing 
his  irons  asunder.  I  bid  good  night  to  my  soundly 
sleeping  parents.  Farewell,  my  beloved,  farewell ! 
For  this  time  I  conclude ;  my  eyelids  have  more  than 
once  dropped  together ;  it  is  now  deep  in  the  night." 


CHAPTEE   XVII. 

It    seemed  as  if  the  day  would  never  end,  while 
Wilhelm,    with   the    letter    beautifully    folded    in  his 
pocket,  longed  to  meet  with  Mariana.     The  darkness 
had  scarcely  come  on,  when,  contrary  to  custom,  he 
glided  forth  to  her  house.     His  plan  was,  to  announce 
himself  for  the  night ;  then  to   quit  his  mistress  for 
a  short  time,  leaving  the  letter  with  her  ere  he  went 
away ;  and,  returning   at  a  late  hour,  to   obtain   her 
reply,  her    consent,  or   to    force   it  from  her    by  the 
power  of  his  caresses.     He  flew  into  her  arms,  and 
pressed  her  in  rapture  to  his  bosom.     The  vehemence 
of  his  emotions  prevented  him  at  first  from  noticing, 
that,  on  this  occasion,  she  did  not  receive  him  with 
her  wonted  heartiness ;  yet  she  could  not  long  conceal 
her  painful  situation,  but  imputed  it  to  slight  indis- 
position.    She  complained   of  a  headache,  and  would 
not  by  any  means  consent  to  his  proposal  of  coming 
back  that  night.     Suspecting  nothing  wrong,  he  ceased 
to  urge  her,  but  felt  that  this  was  not  the  moment  for 
deUvering  his  letter.     He  retained  it,  therefore ;  and, 
as  several  of  her  movements  and  observations  courte- 
ously compelled  him  to  take  his  leave,  in  the  tumult 
of  unsatiable  love  he  snatched  up  one  of  her  necker- 
chiefs, squeezed  it  into  his  pocket,  and  forced  himself 
away  from  her  lips  and  her  door.     He  returned  home, 
but  could  not  rest  there :  he  again  dressed  himself,  and 
went  out  into  the  open  air. 

After  walking  up  and  down  several  streets,  he  was 
accosted  by  a  stranger  inquiring  for  a  certain  inn. 
Wilhelm    offered    to  conduct    him   to  the  house.     In 

79 


8o  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

the  way,  his  new  acquaintance  asked  about  the  names 
of  the  streets,  the  owners  of  various  extensive  edifices, 
then  about  some  poHce  regulations  of  the  town ;  so 
tliat,  by  the  time  they  reached  the  door  of  the  inn, 
they  had  fallen  into  quite  an  interesting  conversa- 
tion. The  stranger  pohtely  compelled  his  guide  to 
enter,  and  drink  a  glass  of  punch  with  him.  Ere  long 
he  had  told  his  name  and  place  of  abode,  as  well  as 
the  business  that  had  brought  him  hither;  and  he 
seemed  to  expect  a  like  confidence  from  Wilhelm. 
Our  friend,  without  any  hesitation,  mentioned  his 
name,  and  the  place  where  he  lived. 

"Are  you  not  a  grandson  of  the  old  Meister,  who 
possessed  that  beautiful  collection  of  pictures  and 
statues  ? "  inquired  the  stranger. 

"  Yes,  I  am.  I  was  ten  years  old  when  my  grand- 
father died,  and  it  grieved  me  very  much  to  see  these 
fine  things  sold." 

"  Your  father  got  a  fine  sum  of  money  for  them." 

"  You  know  of  it,  then  ?  " 

"  Yes,  indeed :  I  saw  that  treasure  ere  it  left  your 
house.  Your  gi-andfather  was  not  merely  a  collector, 
he  had  a  thorough  knowledge  of  art.  In  his  younger 
happy  years  he  had  been  in  Italy,  and  had  brought 
back  with  him  such  treasures  as  could  not  now  be 
got  for  any  price.  He  possessed  some  exquisite  pic- 
tures by  the  best  masters.  When  you  looked  through 
his  drawings,  you  would  scarcely  have  beheved  your 
eyes.  Among  his  marbles  were  some  invaluable  frag- 
ments ;  his  series  of  bronzes  was  instructive  and  well 
chosen ;  he  had  also  collected  medals,  in  considerable 
quantity,  relating  to  history  and  art ;  his  few  gems  de- 
served the  greatest  praise.  In  addition  to  all  which,  the 
whole  was  tastefully  arranged ;  although  the  rooms  and 
hall  of  the  old  house  had  not  been  symmetrically  built." 

"  You  may  conceive,"  said  Wilhelm,  "  what  we  young 
ones  lost,  when  all  these  articles  were  taken  down  and 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  8i 

sent  away.  It  was  the  first  mournful  period  of  my  life. 
I  cannot  tell  you  how  empty  the  chambers  looked 
when  we  saw  those  objects  vanish  one  by  one,  which 
had  amused  us  from  our  earhest  years,  and  which  we 
considered  as  unalterable  as  the  house,  or  the  town 
itself." 

"  If  I  mistake  not,  your  father  put  the  capital  pro- 
duced by  the  sale  into  some  neighbour's  stock,  with 
whom  he  commenced  a  sort  of  partnership  in  trade." 

"  Quite  right ;  and  their  joint  speculations  have 
prospered  in  their  hands.  Within  the  last  twelve 
years,  they  have  greatly  increased  their  fortunes,  and 
are  now  the  more  vehemently  bent  on  gaining.  Old 
Werner  also  has  a  son,  who  suits  that  sort  of  occupa- 
tion much  better  than  I." 

"  I  am  sorry  the  place  should  have  lost  such  an 
ornament  as  your  grandfather's  cabinet  was  to  it. 
I  saw  it  but  a  short  time  prior  to  the  sale ;  and  I 
may  say,  I  was  myself  the  cause  of  its  being  then 
disposed  of.  A  rich  nobleman,  a  great  amateur,  but 
one  who,  in  such  important  transactions,  does  not 
trust  to  his  own  solitary  judgment,  had  sent  me 
hither,  and  requested  my  advice.  For  six  days  I 
examined  the  collection ;  on  the  seventh,  I  advised 
my  friend  to  pay  down  the  required  sum  without 
delay.  You  were  then  a  lively  boy,  often  running 
about  me :  you  explained  to  me  the  subjects  of  the 
pictures,  and  in  general,  I  recollect,  could  give  a  very 
good  account  of  the  whole  cabinet." 

"  I  remember  such  a  person,  but  I  should  not  have 
recognised  him  in  you." 

"  It  is  a  good  while  ago,  and  we  all  change  more  or 
less.  You  had,  if  I  mistake  not,  a  favourite  piece 
among  them,  to  which  you  were  ever  calling  my 
attention." 

"Oh,  yes!  it  represented  the  history  of  that  king's 
son  dying  of  a  secret  love  for  his  father's  bride." 


82  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

"  It  was  not,  certainly,  the  best  picture,  —  badly 
grouped,  of  no  superiority  in  colouring,  and  executed 
altogether  with  gxeat  mannerism." 

"  This  I  did  not  understand,  and  do  not  yet :  it  is 
the  subject  that  charms  me  in  a  picture,  not  the  art." 

"  Your  grandfather  seemed  to  have  thought  other- 
wise. The  greater  part  of  his  collection  consisted  of 
excellent  pieces ;  in  which,  represent  what  they  might, 
one  constantly  admired  the  talent  of  the  master.  This 
picture  of  yours  had  accordingly  been  hung  in  the 
outermost  room,  —  a  proof  that  he  valued  it  slightly." 

"  It  was  in  that  room  where  we  young  ones  used  to 
play,  and  where  the  piece  you  mention  made  on  me  a 
deep  impression  ;  which  not  even  your  criticism,  greatly 
as  I  honour  it,  could  obhterate,  if  we  stood  before  the 
picture  at  this  moment.  What  a  melancholy  object  is 
a  youth  that  must  shut  up  within  himself  the  sweet 
impulse,  the  fairest  inheritance  which  nature  has  given 
us,  and  conceal  in  his  own  bosom  the  fire  which  should 
warm  and  animate  himself  and  others,  so  that  his  vitals 
are  wasted  away  by  unutterable  pains !  I  feel  a  pity 
for  the  ill-fated  man  that  would  consecrate  himself  to 
another,  when  the  heart  of  that  other  has  already  found 
a  worthy  object  of  true  and  pure  affection." 

"  Such  feelings  are,  however,  very  foreign  to  the 
principles  by  which  a  lover  of  art  examines  the  works 
of  great  painters ;  and  most  probably  you,  too,  had  the 
cabinet  continued  in  your  family,  would  have  by  and 
by  acquired  a  relish  for  the  works  themselves,  and  have 
learned  to  see  in  the  performances  of  art  something 
more  than  yourself  and  your  individual  inclinations." 

"  In  truth,  the  sale  of  that  cabinet  grieved  me  very 
much  at  the  time ;  and  often  since  I  have  thought  of 
it  with  regret :  but  when  I  consider  that  it  was  a 
necessary  means  of  awakening  a  taste  in  me,  of  devel- 
oping a  talent,  which  will  operate  far  more  powerfully 
on  my  history  than  ever  those  lifeless  pictures  could 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  83 

have  done,  I  easily  content  myself,  and  honour  destiny, 
which  knows  how  to  bring  about  what  is  best  for  me, 
and  what  is  best  for  every  one." 

"  It  gives  me  pain  to  hear  this  word  destiny  in  the 
mouth  of  a  young"  person,  just  at  the  age  when  men 
are  commonly  accustomed  to  ascribe  their  own  violent 
inclinations  to  the  will  of  higher  natures." 

"  You,  then,  do  not  believe  in  destiny  ?  No  power 
that  rules  over  us  and  directs  all  for  our  ultimate  ad- 
vantage ? " 

"  The  question  is  not  now  of  my  belief,  nor  is  this 
the  place  to  explain  how  I  may  have  attempted  to  form 
for  myself  some  not  impossible  conception  of  things 
which  are  incomprehensible  to  all  of  us :  the  question 
here  is.  What  mode  of  viewing  them  will  profit  us  the 
most?  The  fabric  of  our  life  is  formed  of  necessity 
and  chance:  the  reason  of  man  takes  its  station  be- 
tween them,  and  may  rule  them  both ;  it  treats  the 
necessary  as  the  groundwork  of  its  being;  the  acci- 
dental it  can  direct  and  guide,  and  employ  for  its  own 
purposes :  and  only  while  this  principle  of  reason 
stands  firm  and  inexpugnable,  does  man  deserve  to  be 
named  the  god  of  this  lower  world.  But  woe  to  him 
who,  from  his  youth,  has  used  himself  to  search  in 
necessity  for  something  of  arbitrary  will;  to  ascribe 
to  chance  a  sort  of  reason,  which  it  is  a  matter  of  relig- 
ion to  obey.  Is  conduct  like  this  aught  else  than  to 
renounce  one's  understanding,  and  give  unrestricted 
scope  to  one's  inclinations  ?  We  think  it  is  a  kind  of 
piety  to  move  along  without  consideration ;  to  let  ac- 
cidents that  please  us  determine  our  conduct ;  and, 
finally,  to  bestow  on  the  result  of  such  a  vacillating 
life  the  name  of  providential  guidance." 

"  Was  it  never  your  case  that  some  little  circum- 
stance induced  you  to  strike  into  a  certain  path,  where 
some  accidental  occurrence  erelong  met  you,  and  a 
series  of  unexpected  incidents  at  length  brought  you  to 


84  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

some  point  which  you  yourself  had  scarcely  once  con- 
templated ?  Should  not  lessons  of  this  kind  teach  us 
obedience  to  destiny,  confidence  in  some  such  guide  ?  " 

"  With  opinions  like  these,  no  woman  could  main- 
tain her  virtue,  no  man  keep  the  money  in  his  purse ; 
for  occasions  enough  are  occurring  to  get  rid  of  both. 
He  alone  is  worthy  of  respect,  who  knows  what  is  of 
use  to  himself  and  others,  and  who  labours  to  con- 
trol his  self-will.  Each  man  has  his  own  fortune  in 
his  hands ;  as  the  artist  has  a  piece  of  rude  matter, 
which  he  is  to  fashion  to  a  certain  shape.  But  the  art 
of  living  rightly  is  like  all  arts ;  the  capacity  alone  is 
born  with  us ;  it  must  be  learned,  and  practised  with 
incessant  care." 

These  discussions  our  two  speculators  carried  on  be- 
tween them  to  considerable  length  :  at  last  they  parted 
without  seeming  to  have  wrought  any  special  convic- 
tion in  each  other,  but  engaging  to  meet  at  an  ap- 
pointed place  next  day. 

Wilhelm  w^alked  up  and  down  the  streets  for  a  time : 
he  heard  a  sound  of  clarinets,  hunting-horns,  and  bas- 
soons ;  it  swelled  his  bosom  with  delightful  feelings. 
It  was  some  travelling  showmen  that  produced  this 
pleasant  music.  He  spoke  with  them :  for  a  piece  of 
coin  they  follow^ed  him  to  Mariana's  house.  The  space 
in  front  of  the  door  was  adorned  with  lofty  trees  ;  un- 
der them  he  placed  his  artists ;  and,  himself  resting  on 
a  bench  at  some  distance,  he  surrendered  his  mind 
without  restraint  to  the  hovering  tones  which  floated 
round  him  in  the  cool  mellow  night.  Stretched  out 
beneath  the  kind  stars,  he  felt  his  existence  like  a 
golden  dream.  "  She,  too,  hears  these  flutes,"  said  he 
within  his  heart :  "  she  feels  whose  remembrance, 
whose  love  of  her,  it  is  that  makes  the  night  full  of 
music.  In  distance,  even,  we  are  united  by  these  mel- 
odies, as  in  every  separation,  by  the  ethereal  accordance 
of  love.     Ah !  two  hearts  that  love  each  other  are  as 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  85 

two  magnetic  needles :  whatever  moves  the  one  must 
move  the  other  with  it ;  for  it  is  one  power  that  works 
in  both,  one  principle  that  pervades  them.  Can  I  in 
her  arms  conceive  the  possibility  of  parting  from  her  ? 
And  yet  I  am  soon  to  be  far  from  her,  to  seek  out  a 
sanctuary  for  our  love,  and  then  to  have  her  ever  with 
me. 

"  How  often,  when  absent  from  her,  and  lost  in 
thoughts  about  her,  happening  to  touch  a  book,  a  piece 
of  dress  or  aught  else,  have  I  thought  I  felt  her  hand, 
so  entirely  was  I  invested  with  her  presence !  And  to 
recollect  those  moments  which  shunned  the  light  of 
day  and  the  eye  of  the  cold  spectator  ;  which,  to  enjoy, 
the  gods  might  determine  to  forsake  the  painless  con- 
dition of  their  pure  blessedness  !  To  recollect  them ! 
As  if  by  memory  we  could  renew  the  tumultuous 
thrilhng  of  that  cup  of  joy,  which  encircles  our  senses 
with  celestial  bonds,  and  Lifts  them  beyond  all  earthly 
hindrances.  And  her  form" —  He  lost  himself  in 
thoughts  of  her ;  his  rest  passed  away  into  longing ;  he 
leaned  against  a  tree,  and  cooled  his  warm  cheek  on  its 
bark;  and  the  winds  of  the  night  wafted  speedily 
aside  the  breath,  which  proceeded  in  sighs  from  his 
pure  and  impassioned  bosom.  He  groped  for  the 
neckerchief  he  had  taken  from  her ;  but  it  was  forgot- 
ten, it  lay  in  his  other  clothes.  His  frame  quivered 
with  emotion. 

The  music  ceased,  and  he  felt  as  if  fallen  from  the 
element  in  which  his  thoughts  had  hitherto  been  soar- 
ing. His  restlessness  increased,  as  his  feelings  were 
no  longer  nourished  and  assuaged  by  the  melody.  He 
sat  down  upon  her  threshold,  and  felt  more  peace. 
He  kissed  the  brass  knocker  of  her  door :  he  kissed  the 
threshold  over  which  her  feet  went  out  and  in,  and 
warmed  it  by  the  fire  of  his  breast.  He  again  sat  still 
for  a  moment,  and  figured  her  behind  her  curtains  in 
the  white  nightgown,  with  the  red  ribbon  round  her 


86  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

head,  in  sweet  repose :  he  almost  fancied  that  he  was 
himself  so  near  her,  she  must  needs  be  dreaming  of 
him.  His  thoughts  were  beautiful,  like  the  spirits 
of  the  twihght ;  rest  and  desire  alternated  within  him ; 
love  ran  with  a  quivering  hand,  in  a  thousand  moods, 
over  all  the  chords  of  his  soul ;  it  was  as  if  the  spheres 
stood  mute  above  him,  suspending  their  eternal  song 
to  watch  the  low  melodies  of  his  heart. 

Had  he  then  had  about  him  the  master-key  with 
which  he  used  to  open  Mariana's  door,  he  could  not 
have  restrained  himself  from  penetrating  into  the 
sanctuary  of  love.  Yet  he  went  away  slowly ;  he 
slanted,  half-dreaming,  in  beneath  the  trees,  set  him- 
self for  home,  and  constantly  turned  round  again ;  at 
last,  mth  an  effort,  he  constrained  himself,  and  actually 
departed.  At  the  corner  of  the  street,  looking  back 
yet  once,  he  imagined  that  he  saw  Mariana's  door  open, 
and  a  dark  figure  issue  from  it.  He  was  too  distant 
for  seeing  clearly ;  and,  before  he  could  exert  himself 
and  look  sharply,  the  appearance  was  already  lost  in 
the  night ;  yet  afar  off  he  thought  he  saw  it  agaui 
ghding  past  a  white  house.  He  stood,  and  strained 
his  eyes ;  but,  ere  he  could  arouse  himself  and  follow 
the  phantom,  it  had  vanished.  Whither  should  he 
pursue  it  ?  What  street  had  the  man  taken,  if  it  were 
a  man  ? 

A  nightly  traveller,  when  at  some  turn  of  his  path 
he  has  seen  the  country  for  an  instant  illuminated  by 
a  flash  of  hghtning,  will,  with  dazzled  eyes,  next 
moment,  seek  in  vain  for  the  preceding  forms  and  the 
connection  of  his  road ;  so  was  it  in  the  eyes  and  the 
heart  of  Wilhelm.  And  as  a  spirit  of  midnight,  which 
awakens  unutterable  terror,  is,  in  the  succeeding  mo- 
ments of  composure,  regarded  as  a  child  of  imagina- 
tion, and  the  fearful  vision  leaves  doubts  without  end 
behind  it  in  the  soul ;  so  likewise  was  Wilhelm  in  ex- 
treme disquietude,  as,  leaning  on  the  corner-stone  of 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  87 

the  street,  he  heeded  not  the  clear  gray  of  the  morning, 
and  the  crowing  of  the  cocks;  till  the  early  trades 
began  to  stir,  and  drove  him  home. 

On  his  way,  he  had  almost  effaced  the  unexpected 
delusion  from  his  mind  by  the  most  sufficient  reasons ; 
yet  the  fine  harmonious  feelings  of  the  night,  on  which 
he  now  looked  back  as  if  they  too  had  been  a  vision, 
were  also  gone.  To  soothe  his  heart,  and  put  the  last 
seal  on  his  returning  behef,  he  took  the  neckerchief 
from  the  pocket  of  the  dress  he  had  been  last  wearing. 
The  rustling  of  a  letter  which  fell  out  of  it  took  the 
kerchief  away  from  his  lips  :  he  lifted  and  read  : 

"  As  I  love  thee,  little  fool,  what  ailed  thee  last 
night  ?  ,  This  evening  I  will  come  again.  I  can  easily 
suppose  that  thou  art  sick  of  staying  here  so  long :  but 
have  patience ;  at  the  fair  I  will  return  for  thee.  And 
observe,  never  more  put  me  on  that  abominable  black- 
green-brown  jacket :  thou  lookest  in  it  like  the  witch 
of  Endor.  Did  I  not  send  the  white  nightgown,  that 
I  might  have  a  snowy  little  lambkin  in  my  arms? 
Send  thy  letters  always  by  the  ancient  sibyl:  the 
Devil  himself  has  selected  her  as  Iris." 


Book   II. 


CHAPTEE   I. 

Whoever  strives  in  our  sight  with  vehement  force 
to  reach  an  object,  be  it  one  that  we  praise  or  that  we 
blame,  may  count  on  exciting  an  interest  in  our  minds ; 
but,  when  once  the  matter  is  decided,  we  turn  our  eyes 
away  from  him :  whatever  once  hes  finished  and  done, 
can  no  longer  at  all  fix  our  attention,  especially  if  we 
at  first  prophesied  an  evil  issue  to  the  undertaking. 

Therefore  we  shall  not  try  to  entertain  our  readers 
with  any  circumstantial  account  of  the  giief  and  des- 
peration into  which  our  ill-fated  friend  was  cast,  when 
he  saw  his  hopes  so  unexpectedly  and  instantaneously 
ruined.  On  the  contrary,  we  shall  even  pass  over  sev- 
eral years,  and  again  take  up  our  friend,  where  we  hopa 
to  find  him  in  some  sort  of  activity  and  comfort.  First, 
however,  we  must  shortly  set  forth  a  few  matters  neces- 
sary for  maintaining  the  connection  of  our  narrative. 

The  pestilence,  or  a  malignant  fever,  rages  with  more 
fierceness,  and  speedier  effect,  if  the  frame  which  it 
attacks  was  before  healthy  and  full  of  vigour ;  and  in 
like  manner,  when  a  luckless,  unlooked-for  fate  over- 
took the  wretched  Wilhelm,  his  whole  being  in  a 
moment  was  laid  waste.  As  when  by  chance,  in  the 
preparation  of  some  artificial  firework,  any  part  of  the 
composition  kindles  before  its  time ;  and  the  skilfully 
bored  and  loaded  barrels,  which,  arranged,  and  burning 
after  a  settled  plan,  would  have  painted  in  the  air  a 
magnificently  varying  series  of  flaming  images,  now 
hissing  and  roaring,  promiscuously  explode  with  a  con- 
fused and  dangerous  crash,  —  so,  in  our  hero's  case, 
did  happiness   and   hope,  pleasure   and    joys,  realities 

91 


92  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

and  dreams,  clash  together  with  destructive  tumult,  all 
at  once  in  his  bosom.  In  such  desolate  moments,  the 
friend  that  has  hastened  to  dehverance  stands  fixed  in 
astonishment;  and  for  him  who  suffers,  it  is  a  benefit 
that  sense  forsakes  him. 

Days  of  pain,  unmixed,  ever  returning,  and  pur- 
posely renewed,  succeeded  next :  still,  even  these  are 
to  be  regarded  as  a  grace  from  nature.  In  such  hours 
Wilhelm  had  not  yet  quite  lost  his  mistress :  his  pains 
were  indefatigable  struggles,  still  to  hold  fast  the  hap- 
piness that  was  gliding  from  his  soul ;  again  to  lux- 
uriate in  thought  on  the  possibility  of  it;  to  procure 
a  brief  after-hfe  for  his  joys  that  had  departed  for  ever. 
Thus  one  may  look  upon  a  body  as  not  utterly  dead 
while  the  putrefaction  lasts ;  while  the  forces  that  in 
vain  seek  to  work  by  their  old  appointment,  still  labour 
in  dissevering  the  particles  of  that  frame  which  they 
once  animated ;  and  not  till  all  is  disunited  and  inert, 
till  we  see  the  whole  mouldered  down  into  indifferent 
dust,  —  not  till  then  does  there  rise  in  us  the  mourn- 
ful, vacant  sentiment  of  death,  —  death,  not  to  be 
recalled,  save  by  the  breath  of  him  that  lives  for  ever. 

In  a  temper  so  new,  so  entire,  so  full  of  love,  there 
was  much  to  tear  asunder,  to  desolate,  to  kill;  and 
even  the  healing  force  of  youth  gave  nourishment  and 
violence  to  the  power  of  sorrow.  The  stroke  had  ex- 
tended to  the  roots  of  his  whole  existence.  "Werner, 
by  necessity  his  confidant,  attacked  the  hated  passion 
itself  with  fire  and  sword,  resolutely  zealous  to  search 
into  the  monster's  inmost  life.  The  opportunity  was 
lucky,  the  evidence  at  hand,  and  many  were  the  his- 
tories and  narratives  with  which  he  backed  it  out. 
With  such  unrelenting  vehemence  did  he  make  his 
advances,  leaving  his  friend  not  even  the  respite  of  the 
smallest  momentary  seK-deception,  but  treading  down 
every  lurking-place  in  which  he  might  have  saved 
himself  from  desperation,  that  Nature,  not  inclined  to 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  93 

let  her  darling  perish  utterly,  visited  him  with  sick- 
ness, to  make  an  outlet  for  him  on  the  other  side. 

A  violent  fever,  with  its  train  of  consequences, 
medicines,  overstraining,  and  exhaustion,  besides  the 
unwearied  attentions  of  his  family,  the  love  of  his 
brothers  and  sisters,  which  first  becomes  truly  sensible 
in  times  of  distress  and  want,  were  so  many  fresh  occu- 
pations to  his  mind,  and  thus  formed  a  kind  of  pain- 
ful entertainment.  It  was  not  till  he  grew  better,  in 
other  words,  till  his  strength  was  exhausted,  that  Wil- 
helm  first  looked  down  with  horror  into  the  gloomy 
abyss  of  a  barren  misery,  as  one  looks  down  into  the 
hollow  crater  of  an  extinguished  volcano. 

He  now  bitterly  reproached  himself,  that,  after  so 
great  a  loss,  he  could  yet  enjoy  one  painless,  restful, 
indifferent  moment.  He  despised  his  own  heart,  and 
longed  for  the  balm  of  tears  and  lamentation. 

To  awaken  these  again  within  him,  he  would  recall 
to  memory  the  scenes  of  his  bygone  happiness.  He 
would  paint  them  to  his  fancy  in  the  Hveliest  colours, 
transport  himself  again  into  the  days  when  they  were 
real ;  and  when  standing  on  the  highest  elevation  he 
could  reach,  when  the  sunshine  of  past  times  again 
seemed  to  animate  his  limbs  and  heave  his  bosom,  he 
would  look  back  into  the  fearful  chasm,  would  feast 
his  eye  on  its  dismembering  depth,  then  plunge  down 
into  its  horrors,  and  thus  force  from  nature  the  bitter- 
est pains.  With  such  repeated  cruelty  did  he  tear 
himself  in  pieces ;  for  youth,  which  is  so  rich  in  unde- 
veloped force,  knows  not  what  it  squanders  when,  to 
the  anguish  which  a  loss  occasions,  it  adds  so  many 
sorrows  of  its  own  production,  as  if  it  meant  then  first 
to  give  the  right  value  to  what  is  gone  for  ever.  He 
likewise  felt  so  convinced  that  his  present  loss  was  the 
sole,  the  first,  the  last,  he  ever  could  experience  in  life, 
that  he  turned  away  from  every  consolation  which  aimed 
at  showing  that  his  sorrows  might  be  less  than  endless. 


CHAPTEK   II. 

Accustomed  in  this  way  to  torment  Mmself,  he 
now  also  attacked  what  still  remained  to  him ;  what 
next  to  love,  and  along  with  it,  had  given  him  the 
highest  joys  and  hopes,  —  his  talent  as  a  poet  and 
actor,  with  spiteful  criticisms  on  every  side.  In  his 
labours  he  could  see  nothing  but  a  shallow  imitation 
of  prescribed  forms,  without  intrinsic  worth :  he  looked 
on  them  as  stiff  school-exercises,  destitute  of  any 
spark  of  nature,  truth,  or  inspiration.  His  poems  now 
appeared  nothing  more  than  a  monotonous  arrange- 
ment of  syllables,  in  which  the  most  trite  emotions 
and  thoughts  were  dragged  along  and  kept  together  by 
a  miserable  rhyme.  And  thus  did  he  also  deprive 
himself  of  every  expectation,  every  pleasure,  which  on 
this  quarter  at  least  might  have  aided  the  recovery  of 
his  peace. 

With  the  theatric  talent  it  fared  no  better.  He 
blamed  himself  for  not  having  sooner  detected  the 
vanity  on  which  alone  this  pretension  had  been  founded. 
His  figure,  his  gait,  his  movements,  his  mode  of  decla- 
mation, were  severally  taxed :  he  decisively  renounced 
every  species  of  advantage  or  merit  that  might  have 
raised  him  above  the  common  run  of  men,  and  so 
doing  he  increased  his  mute  despair  to  the  highest 
pitch.  For,  if  it  is  hard  to  give  up  a  woman's  love,  no 
less  painful  is  the  task  to  part  from  the  fellow.ship  of 
the  Muses,  to  declare  ourselves  for  ever  undeserving 
to  be  of  their  community,  and  to  forego  the  fairest  and 
most  immediate  kind  of  approbation,  what  is  openly 
bestowed  on  our  person,  our  voice,  and  our  demeanour. 

94 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  95 

Thus,  then,  our  friend  had  long  ago  entirely  resigned 
himself,  and  set  about  devoting  his  powers  with  the 
greatest  zeal  to  the  business  of  trade.  To  the  surprise 
of  friends,  and  to  the  gi-eat  contentment  of  his  father, 
no  one  was  now  more  diligent  than  Wilhelm,  on  the 
exchange  or  in  the  counting-house,  in  the  saleroom  or 
the  warehouses:  correspondence  and  calculations,  all 
that  w^as  entrusted  to  his  charge,  he  attended  to  and 
managed  with  the  greatest  diligence  and  zeal.  Not,  in 
truth,  with  that  warm  dihgence  which  to  the  busy  man 
is  its  own  reward,  when  he  follows  with  constancy  and 
order  the  employment  he  was  born  for,  but  with  the 
silent  dihgence  of  duty,  which  has  the  best  principle 
for  its  foundation ;  which  is  nourished  by  conviction, 
and  rewarded  by  conscience ;  yet  which  oft,  even  when 
the  clearest  testimony  of  our  minds  is  crowning  it  with 
approbation,  can  scarcely  repress  a  struggling  sigh. 

In  this  manner  he  hved  for  a  time,  assiduously  busied, 
and  at  last  persuaded  that  his  former  hard  trial  had 
been  ordained  by  fate  for  the  best.  He  felt  glad  at 
having  thus  been  timefully,  though  somewhat  harshly, 
warned  about  the  proper  path  of  life ;  while  many  are 
constrained  to  expiate  more  heavily,  and  at  a  later  age, 
the  misconceptions  into  which  their  youthful  inexperi- 
ence has  betrayed  them.  Tor  each  man  commonly 
defends  himseK  as  long  as  possible  from  casting  out 
the  idols  which  he  worships  in  his  soul,  from  acknow^l- 
edging  a  master  error,  and  admitting  any  truth  which 
brings  him  to  despair. 

Determined  as  he  was  to  abandon  his  dearest  proj- 
ects, some  time  was  still  necessary  to  convince  him 
fully  of  his  misfortune.  At  last,  however,  he  had  so 
completely  succeeded,  by  irrefragable  reasons,  in  anni- 
hilating every  hope  of  love,  or  poetical  performance,  or 
stage  representation,  that  he  took  courage  to  obliterate 
entirely  all  the  traces  of  his  folly,  —  all  that  could  in 
any  way  remind  him  of  it.     For  this  purpose  he  had 


96  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

lit  a  fire  in  his  chamber,  one  cool  evening,  and  brought 
out  a  little  chest  of  relics,  among  which  were  multi- 
tudes of  small  articles,  that,  in  memorable  moments, 
he  had  begged  or  stolen  from  Mariana.  Each  withered 
flower  brought  to  his  mind  the  time  when  it  bloomed 
fresh  among  her  hair ;  each  little  note  the  happy  hour 
to  which  it  had  invited  him ;  each  ribbon-knot  the 
lovely  resting-place  of  his  head,  —  her  beautiful  bosom. 
So  occupied,  was  it  not  to  be  expected  that  each  emo- 
tion which  he  thought  long  since  quite  dead,  should 
again  begin  to  move  ?  Was  it  not  to  be  expected  that 
the  passion  over  which,  when  separated  from  his  mis- 
tress, he  had  gained  the  victory,  should,  in  the  presence 
of  these  memorials,  again  gather  strength  ?  We  first 
observe  how  dreary  and  disagreeable  an  overclouded 
day  is  when  a  single  sunbeam  pierces  through,  and 
offers  to  us  the  exhilarating  splendour  of  a  serene 
hour. 

Accordingly,  it  was  not  without  disturbance  that  he 
saw  these  relics,  long  preserved  as  sacred,  fade  away 
from  before  him  in  smoke  and  flame.  Sometimes  he 
shuddered  and  hesitated  in  his  task:  he  had  still  a 
pearl  necklace  and  a  flowered  neckerchief  in  his  hands, 
when  he  resolved  to  quicken  the  decaying  fire  with  the 
poetical  attempts  of  his  youth. 

Till  now  he  had  carefully  laid  up  whatever  had  pro- 
ceeded from  his  pen,  since  the  earliest  unfolding  of  his 
mind.  His  papers  yet  lay  tied  up  in  a  bundle  at  the 
bottom  of  the  chest,  where  he  had  packed  them ;  pur- 
posing to  take  them  with  him  in  his  elopement.  How 
altogether  different  were  his  feelings  now  in  opening 
them,  and  his  feelings  then  in  tying  them  together ! 

If  we  happen,  under  certain  circumstances,  to  have 
written  and  sealed  and  despatched  a  letter  to  a  friend, 
which,  however,  does  not  find  him,  but  is  brought  back 
to  us,  and  we  open  it  at  the  distance  of  some  consider- 
able time,  a  singular  emotion  is  produced  in  us,  on 


meister's  apprenticeship  97 

breaking  up  our  own  seal,  and  conversing  with  our 
altered  self  as  with  a  third  person.  A  similar  and  deep 
feeling  seized  our  friend,  as  he  now  opened  this  packet, 
and  threw  the  scattered  leaves  into  the  fire ;  which  was 
flaming  fiercely  with  its  offerings,  when  Werner  en- 
tered, expressed  his  wonder  at  the  blaze,  and  asked 
what  was  the  matter. 

"  I  am  now  giving  proof,"  said  Wilhelm,  "  that  I  am 
serious  in  abandoning  a  trade  for  which  I  was  not 
born."  And,  with  these  words,  he  cast  the  second 
packet  likewise  into  the  fire.  Werner  made  a  motion 
to  prevent  him,  but  the  business  was  already  done. 

"  I  cannot  see  how  thou  shouldst  bring  thyself  to 
such  extremities,"  said  Werner.  "Why  must  these 
labours,  because  they  are  not  excellent,  be  annihi- 
lated ? " 

"  Because  either  a  poem  is  excellent,  or  it  should  not 
be  allowed  to  exist.  Because  each  man  who  has  no 
gift  for  producing  first-rate  works,  should  entirely  ab- 
stain from  the  pursuit  of  art,  and  seriously  guard  him- 
self against  every  deception  on  that  subject.  For  it 
must  be  owned,  that  in  all  men  there  is  a  certain  vague 
desire  to  imitate  whatever  is  presented  to  them;  and 
such  desires  do  not  prove  at  all  that  we  possess  within 
us  the  force  necessary  for  succeeding  in  these  enter- 
prises. Look  at  boys,  how,  whenever  any  rope-dancers 
have  been  visiting  the  town,  they  go  scrambling  up 
and  down,  and  balancing  on  all  the  planks  and  beams 
within  their  reach,  till  some  other  charm  calls  them 
off  to  other  sports,  for  which  perhaps  they  are  as  little 
suited.  Hast  thou  never  marked  it  in  the  circle  of  our 
friends  ?  No  sooner  does  a  dilettante  introduce  himself 
to  notice,  than  numbers  of  them  set  themselves  to  learn 
playing  on  his  instrument.  How  many  wander  back 
and  forward  on  this  bootless  way !  Happy  they  who 
soon  detect  the  chasm  that  lies  between  their  wishes 
and  their  powers ! " 


98  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

Werner  contradicted  this  opinion :  their  discussion 
became  lively,  and  Wilhelm  could  not  without  emotion 
employ  against  his  friend  the  arguments  with  which 
he  had  already  so  frequently  tormented  himself.  Wer- 
ner maintained  that  it  was  not  reasonable  wholly  to 
relinquish  a  pursuit,  for  which  a  man  had  some  pro- 
pensity and  talent,  merely  because  he  never  could  suc- 
ceed in  it  to  full  perfection.  There  were  many  vacant 
hours,  he  said,  which  might  be  filled  up  by  it ;  and 
then  by  and  by  some  result  might  be  produced  which 
would  yield  a  certain  satisfaction  to  himself  and 
others. 

Wilhelm,  who  in  this  matter  was  of  quite  a  different 
opinion,  here  interrupted  him,  and  said  with  great 
vivacity : 

"  How  immensely,  dear  friend,  do  you  err  in  believ- 
ing that  a  work,  the  first  presentation  of  which  is  to 
fill  the  whole  soul,  can  be  produced  in  broken  hours 
scraped  together  from  other  extraneous  employment. 
No :  the  poet  must  live  wholly  for  himself,  wholly  in 
the  objects  that  delight  him.  Heaven  has  furnished 
him  internally  with  precious  gifts ;  he  carries  in  his 
bosom  a  treasure  that  is  ever  of  itself  increasing;  he 
must  also  live  with  this  treasure,  undisturbed  from 
without,  in  that  still  blessedness  which  the  rich  seek 
in  vain  to  purchase  with  their  accumulated  stores. 
Look  at  men,  how  they  struggle  after  happiness  and 
satisfaction !  Their  wishes,  their  toil,  their  gold,  are 
ever  hunting  restlessly,  —  and  after  what  ?  After  that 
which  the  poet  has  received  from  nature,  —  the  right 
enjoyment  of  the  world,  the  feeling  of  himself  in 
others,  the  harmonious  conjunction  of  many  things 
that  will  seldom  exist  together. 

"  What  is  it  that  keeps  men  in  continual  discontent 
and  agitation  ?  It  is,  that  they  cannot  make  realities 
correspond  with  their  conceptions,  that  enjoyment 
steals  away  from  among  their  hands,  that  the  wished- 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  99 

for  comes  too  late,  and  notliing  reached  and  acquired 
produces  on  the  heart  the  effect  which  their  longing 
for  it  at  a  distance  led  them  to  anticipate.  Now,  fate 
has  exalted  the  poet  above  all  this,  as  if  he  were  a  god. 
He  views  the  conflicting  tumult  of  the  passions ;  sees 
families  and  kingdoms  raging  in  aimless  commotion ; 
sees  those  inexplicable  enigmas  of  misunderstanding, 
which  frequently  a  single  monosyllable  would  suffice 
to  explain,  occasioning  convulsions  unutterably  baleful. 
He  has  a  fellow  feeling  of  the  mournful  and  the  joyful 
in  the  fate  of  all  human  beings.  Wlien  the  man  of  the 
world  is  devoting  his  days  to  wasting  melancholy,  for 
some  deep  disappointment,  or,  in  the  ebullience  of  joy, 
is  going  out  to  meet  his  happy  destiny,  the  lightly 
moved  and  all-conceiving  spirit  of  the  poet  steps  forth, 
like  the  sun  from  night  to  day,  and  with  soft  transi- 
tions tunes  his  harp  to  joy  or  woe.  From  his  heart, 
its  native  soil,  springs  up  the  lovely  flower  of  wisdom ; 
and  if  others,  while  waking,  dream,  and  are  pained  with 
fantastic  delusions  from  their  every  sense,  he  passes 
the  dream  of  life  like  one  awake ;  and  the  strangest  of 
incidents  is  to  him  a  part  both  of  the  past  and  of 
the  future.  And  thus  the  poet  is  at  once  a  teacher, 
a  prophet,  a  friend  of  gods  and  men.  What !  thou 
wouldst  have  him  descend  from  his  height  to  some 
paltry  occupation !  He  who  is  fashioned  like  the  bird 
to  hover  round  the  world,  to  nestle  on  the  lofty  sum- 
mits, to  feed  on  buds  and  fruits,  exchanging  gaily  one 
bough  for  another,  he  ought  also  to  work  at  the  plough 
like  an  ox ;  like  a  dog  to  train  himself  to  the  harness 
and  draught ;  or  perhaps,  tied  up  in  a  chain,  to  guard  a 
farmyard  by  his  barking  ! " 

Werner,  it  may  well  be  supposed,  had  listened  with 
the  greatest  surprise.  "  All  true,"  he  rejoined,  "  if  men 
were  but  made  like  birds,  and,  though  they  neither 
spun  nor  weaved,  could  yet  spend  peaceful  days  in 
perpetual  enjoyment;    if,  at  the  approach  of  winter 


loo  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

they  could  as  easily  betake  themselves  to  distant 
regions,  could  retire  before  scarcity,  and  fortify  them- 
selves against  frost." 

"  Poets  have  lived  so,"  exclaimed  Wilhelm,  "  in  times 
when  true  nobleness  was  better  reverenced ;  and  so 
should  they  ever  live !  Sufficiently  provided  for  with- 
in, they  had  need  of  little  from  without :  the  gift  of 
communicating  lofty  emotions  and  glorious  images  to 
men,  in  melodies  and  words  that  charmed  the  ear,  and 
fixed  themselves  inseparably  on  whatever  objects  they 
referred  to,  of  old  enraptured  the  world,  and  served 
the  gifted  as  a  rich  inheritance.  At  the  courts  of 
kings,  at  the  tables  of  the  great,  beneath  the  windows 
of  the  fair,  the  sound  of  them  was  heard ;  while  the 
ear  and  the  soul  were  shut  for  all  beside :  and  men  felt 
as  we  do  when  dehght  comes  over  us,  and  we  stop  with 
rapture  if,  among  the  dingles  we  are  crossing,  the  voice 
of  the  nightingale  starts  out  touching  and  strong.  They 
found  a  home  in  every  habitation  of  the  world,  and  the 
lowliness  of  their  condition  but  exalted  them  the  more. 
The  hero  hstened  to  their  songs,  and  the  conqueror  of 
the  earth  did  reverence  to  a  poet ;  for  he  felt,  that, 
without  poets,  his  own  wild  and  vast  existence  would 
pass  away  like  a  whirlwind,  and  be  forgotten  for  ever. 
The  lover  wished  that  he  could  feel  his  longings  and 
his  joys  so  variedly  and  so  harmoniously  as  the  poet's 
inspired  lips  had  skill  to  show  them  forth ;  and  even 
the  rich  man  could  not  of  himself  discern  such  costli- 
ness in  his  idol  grandeurs,  as  when  they  were  pre- 
sented to  him  shining  in  the  splendour  of  the  poet's 
spirit,  sensible  to  all  worth,  and  exalting  all.  Nay,  if 
thou  wilt  have  it,  who  but  the  poet  was  it  that  first 
formed  gods  for  us,  that  exalted  us  to  them,  and 
brought  them  down  to  us  ? " 

"  My  friend,"  said  Werner,  after  some  reflection,  "  it 
has  often  grieved  me  that  thou  shouldst  strive  by  force 
to  banish  from  thy  soul  what  thou  feelest  so  vividly. 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  loi 

I  am  greatly  mistaken,  if  it  were  not  better  for  thee 
in  some  degi-ee  to  yield  to  these  propensities,  than  to 
waste  thyself  by  the  contradictions  of  so  hard  a  piece 
of  seK-denial,  and  with  the  enjoyment  of  this  one 
guiltless  pleasure  to  renounce  the  enjoyment  of  all 
others." 

"  Shall  I  confess  it,"  said  the  other,  "  and  wilt  not 
thou  laugh  at  me  if  I  acknowledge,  that  these  ideas 
pursue  me  constantly ;  that,  let  me  flee  from  them  as 
I  will,  when  I  explore  my  heart,  I  find  all  my  early 
wishes  yet  rooted  there,  firmly,  —  nay,  more  firmly 
than  ever  ?  Yet  what  now  remains  for  me,  wretched 
as  I  am  ?  Ah  !  whoever  should  have  told  me  that  the 
arms  of  my  spirit,  with  w^hich  I  was  grasping  at  in- 
finity, and  hoping  vdth  certainty  to  clasp  something 
great  and  glorious,  w^ould  so  soon  be  crushed  and 
smote  in  pieces,  —  whoever  should  have  told  me  this, 
would  have  brought  me  to  despair.  And  yet  now, 
when  judgment  has  been  passed  against  me ;  now, 
when  she,  that  was  to  be  as  my  divinity  to  guide  me 
to  my  wishes,  is  gone  for  ever,  —  what  remains  but 
that  I  yield  up  my  soul  to  the  bitterest  woes  ?  0  my 
brother !  I  will  not  deceive  you :  in  my  secret  purposes, 
she  was  as  the  hook  on  which  the  ladder  of  my  hopes 
was  fixed.  See !  With  daring  aim  the  mountain 
adventurer  hovers  in  the  air :  the  iron  breaks,  and  he 
lies  broken  and  dismembered  on  the  earth.  No,  there 
is  no  hope,  no  comfort  for  me  more !  I  will  not,"  he 
cried  out,  springing  to  his  feet,  "  leave  a  single  frag- 
ment of  these  wretched  papers  from  the  flames."  He 
then  seized  one  or  two  packets  of  them,  tore  them  up, 
and  thrcAv  them  into  the  fire.  Werner  endeavoured 
to  restrain  him,  but  in  vain.  "  Let  me  alone  ! "  cried 
Wilhelm :  "  what  should  these  miserable  leaves  do 
here  ?  To  me  they  give  neither  pleasant  recollections 
nor  pleasant  hopes.  Shall  they  remain  behind  to  vex 
me  to  the  end  of  my  life  ?     Shall  they  perhaps  one 


I02  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

day  serve  the  world  for  a  jest,  instead  of  awakening 
sympathy  and  horror  ?  Woe  to  me  !  my  doom  is  woe  ! 
Now  I  comprehend  the  wailings  of  the  poets,  of  the 
wretched  whom  necessity  has  rendered  mse.  How 
long  did  I  look  upon  myself  as  invulnerable  and  in- 
vincible ;  and,  alas !  I  am  now  made  to  see  that  a  deep 
and  early  sorrow  can  never  heal,  can  never  pass  away : 
I  feel  that  I  shall  take  it  with  me  to  my  grave.  No ! 
not  a  day  of  my  life  shall  escape  this  anguish,  which 
at  last  must  crush  me  down ;  and  her  image  too  shall 
stay  with  me,  shall  hve  and  die  with  me,  the  image  of 
the  worthless,  —  0  my  friend !  if  I  must  speak  the 
feeling  of  my  heart,  —  the  perhaps  not  altogether 
worthless !  Her  situation,  the  crookedness  of  her 
destiny,  have  a  thousand  times  excused  her  in  my 
mind.  I  have  been  too  cruel ;  you  steeled  me  in  your 
own  cold  unrelenting  harshness  ;  you  held  my  waver- 
ing senses  captive,  and  hindered  me  from  doing  for 
myself  and  her  what  I  owed  to  both.  Who  knows  to 
what  a  state  I  may  have  brought  her !  my  conscience 
by  degrees  presents  to  me,  in  all  its  heaviness,  in  what 
helplessness,  in  w^hat  despair,  I  may  have  left  her. 
Was  it  not  possible  that  she  might  clear  herself  ? 
Was  it  not  possible  ?  How  many  misconceptions 
throw  the  world  into  perplexity !  how  many  circum- 
stances may  extort  forgiveness  for  the  greatest  fault ! 
Often  do  I  figure  her  as  sitting  by  herself  in  silence, 
leaning  on  her  elbows.  '  This,'  she  says,  '  is  the  faith, 
the  love,  he  swore  to  me !  With  this  hard  stroke  to 
end  the  delicious  life  which  made  us  one ! ' "  He 
broke  out  into  a  stream  of  tears ;  while  he  threw  him- 
self down  with  his  face  upon  the  table,  and  wetted  the 
remaining  papers  with  his  weeping. 

Werner  stood  beside  him  in  the  deepest  perplexity. 
He  had  not  anticipated  this  fierce  ebullition  of  feeling. 
More  than  once  he  had  tried  to  interrupt  his  friend, 
more  than  once  to  lead    the  conversation   elsewhere, 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  103 

but  in  vain :  the  current  was  too  strong  for  him.  It 
remained  that  long-suffering  friendship  should  again 
take  up  her  office.  "Werner  allowed  the  first  shock  of 
sorrow  to  pass  over,  while  by  his  silent  presence  he 
testified  a  pure  and  honest  sympathy.  And  thus  they 
both  remained  that  evening,  —  Wilhelm  sunk  in  the 
dull  feelings  of  old  sorrows ;  and  the  other  terrified  at 
this  new  outbreaking  of  a  passion  which  he  thought 
his  prudent  councils  and  keen  persuasion  had  long 
since  mastered  and  destroyed. 


CHAPTEE   III. 

Aftek  such  relapses,  Wilhelm  usually  applied  him- 
self to  business  and  activity  with  augmented  ardour ; 
and  he  found  it  the  best  means  to  escape  the  labyrinth 
into  which  he  had  again  been  tempted  to  enter.  His 
attractive  way  of  treating  strangers,  the  ease  with 
which  he  carried  on  a  correspondence  in  any  living 
language,  more  and  more  increased  the  hopes  of  his 
father  and  his  trading  friends,  and  comforted  them  in 
their  sorrow  for  his  sickness,  —  the  origin  of  which 
had  not  been  known,  —  and  for  the  pause  which  had 
thus  interrupted  theii  plan.  They  determined  a  second 
time  on  Wilhelm's  setting  out  to  travel ;  and  we  now 
find  him  on  horseback,  with  his  saddle-bags  behind 
him,  exhilarated  by  the  motion  and  the  free  air,  ap- 
proaching the  mountains,  where  he  had  some  affairs 
to  settle. 

He  winded  slowly  on  his  path,  through  dales  and 
over  hills,  with  a  feehng  of  the  greatest  satisfaction. 
Overhanging  cliffs,  roaring  brooks,  moss-grown  rocky 
walls,  deep  precipices,  he  here  saw  for  the  first  time ; 
yet  his  earliest  dreams  of  youth  had  wandered  among 
such  regions.  In  these  scenes  he  felt  his  age  renew^ed ; 
all  the  sorrows  he  had  undergone  were  obliterated 
from  his  soul ;  with  unbroken  cheerfulness  he  repeated 
to  himself  passages  of  various  poems,  particularly  of 
the  "Pastor  Fido,"  which,  in  these  solitary  places, 
flocked  in  crowds  into  his  mind.  He  also  recollected 
many  pieces  of  his  own  songs,  and  recited  them  with 
a  peculiar  contentment.     He  peopled  the  world  w^hich 

104 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  105 

lay  before  him  with  all  the  forms  of  the  past,  and 
each  step  into  the  future  was  to  him  fvill  of  augury 
of  important  operations  and  remarkable  events. 

Several  men,  who  came  behind  him  in  succession, 
and  saluted  him  as  they  passed  by  to  continue  their 
hasty  way  into  the  mountains,  by  steep  footpaths, 
sometimes  interrupted  his  thoughts  without  attracting 
his  attention  to  themselves.  At  last  a  communicative 
traveller  joined  him,  and  explained  the  reason  of  this 
general  pilgrimage. 

"  At  Hochdorf,"  he  said,  "  there  is  a  play  to  be  acted 
to-night ;  and  the  whole  neighbourhood  is  gathering  to 
see  it." 

"  What ! "  cried  Wilhelm.  "  In  these  solitary  hills, 
among  these  impenetrable  forests,  has  theatric  art 
sought  out  a  place,  and  built  herself  a  temple  ?  And 
I  am  journeying  to  her  festivities  ! " 

"  You  will  wonder  more,"  said  the  other,  "  when  you 
learn  by  whom  the  play  is  to  be  acted.  There  is  in 
the  place  a  large  manufactory,  which  employs  many 
people.  The  proprietor,  who  lives,  so  to  speak,  remote 
from  all  human  society,  can  find  no  better  means  of 
entertaining  his  workmen  during  winter,  than  allow- 
ing them  to  act  plays.  He  suffers  no  cards  among 
them,  and  wishes  also  to  withdraw  them  from  all 
coarse  rustic  practices.  Thus  they  pass  the  long 
evenings ;  and  to-day,  being  the  old  gentleman's  birth- 
day, they  are  giving  a  particular  festival  in  honour  of 
him." 

Wilhelm  came  to  Hochdorf,  where  he  was  to  pass 
the  night,  and  alighted  at  the  manufactory,  the  pro- 
prietor of  which  stood  as  a  debtor  in  his  list. 

When  he  gave  his  name,  the  old  man  cried  in  a 
glad  surprise,  "  Ay,  sir,  are  you  the  son  of  that  worthy 
man  to  whom  I  owe  so  many  thanks,  —  so  long  have 
owed  money  ?  Your  good  father  has  had  so  much 
patience  with  me,  I  should  be  a  knave  if  I  did  not  pay 


io6  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

you  speedily  and  cheerfully.  You  come  at  the  proper 
time  to  see  that  I  am  fully  in  earnest  about  it." 

He  then  called  out  his  wife,  who  seemed  no  less 
delighted  than  himself  to  see  the  youth :  she  declared 
that  he  was  very  like  his  father,  and  lamented,  that, 
having  such  a  multitude  of  guests  already  in  the 
house,  she  could  not  lodge  him  for  the  night. 

The  account  was  clear,  and  quickly  settled  :  Wilhelm 
put  the  roll  of  gold  into  his  pocket,  and  wished  that 
all  his  other  business  might  go  on  so  smoothly.  At 
last  the  play-hour  came :  they  now  waited  nothing 
but  the  coming  of  the  head  forester,  who  at  length 
also  arrived,  entered  with  a  few  hunters,  and  was 
received  with  the  greatest  reverence. 

The  company  was  then  led  into  the  playhouse, 
formed  out  of  a  barn  that  lay  close  upon  the  garden. 
Without  any  extraordinary  taste,  both  seats  and  stage 
were  yet  decked  out  in  a  cheerful  and  pretty  way. 
One  of  the  painters  employed  in  the  manufactory 
had  formerly  worked  as  an  understrapper  at  the 
prince's  theatre:  he  had  now  represented  woods  and 
streets  and  chambers,  somewhat  rudely,  it  is  true,  yet 
so  as  to  be  recognised  for  such.  The  play  itself  they 
had  borrowed  from  a  strolHng  company,  and  shaped 
it  aright,  according  to  their  own  ideas.  As  it  was, 
it  did  not  fail  to  yield  some  entertainment.  The 
plot  of  two  lovers  wishing  to  carry  off  a  girl  from 
her  guardian,  and  mutually  from  one  another,  pro- 
duced a  great  variety  of  interesting  situations.  Being 
the  first  play  our  friend  had  witnessed  for  so  long 
a  time,  it  suggested  several  reflections  to  him.  It  was 
full  of  action,  but  without  any  true  delineation  of 
character.  It  pleased  and  delighted.  Such  are  always 
the  beginnings  of  the  scenic  art.  The  rude  man  is 
contented  if  he  see  but  something  going  on ;  the  man 
of  more  refinement  must  be  made  to  feel ;  the  man 
entirely  refined,  desires  to  reflect. 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  107 

The  players  he  would  willingly  have  helped  here 
and  there,  for  a  very  httle  would  have  made  them 
greatly  better. 

His  silent  meditations  were  somewhat  broken  in 
upon  by  the  tobacco-smoke,  which  now  began  to  rise 
in  great  and  greater  copiousness.  Soon  after  the  com- 
mencement of  the  play,  the  head  forester  had  lit  his 
pipe :  by  and  by  others  took  the  same  liberty.  The 
large  dogs,  too,  which  followed  these  gentlemen,  intro- 
duced themselves  in  no  pleasant  style.  At  first  they 
had  been  bolted  out;  but,  soon  finding  the  back-door 
passage,  they  entered  on  the  stage,  ran  against  the  actors, 
and  at  last,  jvimping  over  the  orchestra,  joined  their 
masters,  who  had  taken  up  the  front  seats  in  the  pit. 

For  afterpiece  an  oblation  was  represented.  A  por- 
trait of  the  old  gentleman  in  his  Imdegroom  dress 
stood  upon  an  altar,  hung  with  garlands.  All  the 
players  paid  their  reverence  to  it  in  the  most  submis- 
sive postures.  The  youngest  child  came  forward 
dressed  in  white,  and  made  a  speech  in  verse;  by 
which  the  whole  family,  and  even  the  head  forester 
himself,  whom  it  brought  in  mind  of  his  own  children, 
were  melted  into  tears.  Thus  ended  the  play;  and 
Wilhelm  could  not  help  stepping  on  the  stage,  to  have 
a  closer  view  of  the  actresses,  to  praise  them  for  their 
good  performance,  and  give  them  a  little  counsel  for 
the  future. 

The  remaining  business,  which  our  friend  in  the 
following  days  had  to  transact  in  various  quarters 
of  the  hill-country,  was  not  all  so  pleasant,  or  so  easy 
to  conclude  with  satisfaction.  Many  of  his  debtors 
entreated  for  delay,  many  were  uncourteous,  many 
lied.  In  conformity  with  his  instructions,  he  had  to 
sue  some  of  them  at  law :  he  was  thus  obliged  to  seek 
out  advocates,  and  give  instructions  to  them,  to  appear 
before  judges,  and  go  through  many  other  sorry  duties 
of  the  same  sort. 


io8  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

His  case  was  hardly  bettered  when  people  chanced 
to  incline  showing  some  attention  to  him.  He  found 
very  few  that  could  any  way  instruct  him,  few  with 
whom  he  could  hope  to  establish  a  useful  commercial 
correspondence.  Unhappily,  moreover,  the  weather 
now  grew  rainy ;  and  travelling  on  horseback  in  this 
district  came  to  be  attended  with  insufferable  difficul- 
ties. He  therefore  thanked  his  stars  on  again  getting 
near  the  level  country ;  and  at  the  foot  of  the  moun- 
tains, looking  out  into  a  fertile  and  beautiful  plain, 
intersected  by  a  smooth-flowing  river,  and  seeing  a 
cheerful  little  town  lying  on  its  banks,  all  glittering 
in  the  sunshine,  he  resolved,  though  without  any 
special  business  in  the  place,  to  pass  a  day  or  two 
there,  that  he  might  refresh  both  himself  and  his 
horse,  which  the  bad  roads  had  considerably  injured. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

On  alighting  at  an  inn,  upon  the  market-place,  he 
found  matters  going  on  very  joyously,  —  at  least  very 
stirringly.  A  large  company  of  rope-dancers,  leapers, 
and  jugglers,  having  a  strong  man  along  with  them, 
had  just  arrived  with  their  wives  and  children,  and, 
while  preparing  for  a  grand  exhibition,  kept  up  a 
perpetual  racket.  They  first  quarrelled  with  the  laud- 
lord,  then  with  one  another;  and,  if  their  contention 
was  intolerable,  the  expressions  of  their  satisfaction 
were  infinitely  more  so.  Undetermined  whether  he 
should  go  or  stay,  he  was  standing  in  the  door  looking 
at  some  workmen,  who  had  just  begun  to  erect  a  stage 
in  the  middle  of  the  square. 

A  girl  with  roses  and  other  flowers  for  sale,  coming 
by,  held  out  her  basket  to  him,  and  he  purchased 
a  beautiful  nosegay ;  which,  like  one  that  had  a  taste 
for  these  things,  he  tied  up  in  a  differcDt  fashion, 
and  was  looking  at  it  with  a  satisfied  air,  when  the 
window  of  another  inn  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
square  flew  open,  and  a  handsome  woman  looked 
out  from  it.  Notwithstanding  the  distance,  he  ob- 
served that  her  face  was  animated  by  a  pleasant 
cheerfulness ;  her  fair  hair  fell  carelessly  streaming 
about  her  neck ;  she  seemed  to  be  looking  at  the 
stranger.  In  a  short  time  afterward,  a  boy  with  a 
white  jacket,  and  a  barber's  apron  on,  came  out  from 
the  door  of  her  house  toward  Wilhelm,  saluted  him, 
and  said,  "  The  lady  at  the  window  bids  me  ask  if 
you  will  not  favour  her  with  a  share  of  your  beautiful 
flowers."     "  They    are    all    at    her    service,"    answered 

109 


no  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

Wilhelm,  giving  the  nosegay  to  this  nimble  messenger, 
and  making  a  bow  to  the  fair  one,  who  returned  it 
with  a  friendly  courtesy,  and  then  withdrew  from 
the  window. 

Amused  with  this  small  adventure,  he  was  going 
up-stairs  to  his  chamber,  when  a  young  creature 
sprang  against  him,  and  attracted  his  attention.  A 
short  silk  waistcoat  with  slashed  Spanish  sleeves, 
tight  trousers  with  puffs,  looked  very  pretty  on  the 
child.  Its  long  black  hair  was  curled,  and  wound 
in  locks  and  plaits  about  the  head.  He  looked  at 
the  figure  with  astonishment,  and  could  not  determine 
whether  to  take  it  for  a  boy  or  a  girl.  However,  he 
decided  for  the  latter;  and,  as  the  child  ran  by, 
he  took  her  up  in  his  arms,  bade  her  good  day,  and 
asked  her  to  whom  she  belonged ;  though  he  easily 
perceived  that  she  must  be  a  member  of  the  vaulting 
and  dancing  company  lately  aiTived.  She  viewed  him 
with  a  dark,  sharp  side-look,  as  she  pushed  herself 
out  of  his  arms,  and  ran  into  the  kitchen  without 
making  any  answer. 

On  coming  up-stairs,  he  found  in  the  large  parlour 
two  men  practising  the  small  sword,  or  seeming  rather 
to  make  trial  which  was  the  better  fencer.  One  of 
them  plainly  enough  belonged  to  the  vaulting  com- 
pany: the  other  had  a  somewhat  less  savage  aspect. 
Wilhelm  looked  at  them,  and  had  reason  to  admire 
them  both ;  and  as  the  black-bearded,  sturdy  contender 
soon  afterward  forsook  the  place  of  action,  the  other 
with  extreme  complaisance  offered  Wilhelm  the  rapier. 

"  If  you  want  to  take  a  scholar  under  your  inspec- 
tion," said  our  friend,  "  I  am  well  content  to  risk  a 
few  passes  with  you." 

Accordingly  they  fought  together ;  and,  although  the 
stranger  greatly  overmatched  his  new  competitor,  he 
politely  kept  declaring  that  it  all  depended  upon  prac- 
tice: in  fact,  Wilhelm,  inferior  as  he  was,  had  made 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  iii 

it  evident  that  he  had  got  his  first  instructions  from 
a  good,  sohd,  thorough-paced  German  fencing-master. 

Their  entertainment  was  disturbed  by  the  uproar 
with  which  the  party-coloured  brotherhood  issued 
from  the  inn,  to  make  proclamation  of  the  show,  and 
awaken  a  desire  to  see  their  art,  throughout  the  town. 
Preceded  by  a  drum,  the  manager  advanced  on  horse- 
back :  he  was  followed  by  a  female  dancer  mounted 
on  a  corresponding  hack,  and  holding  a  child  before 
her,  all  bedizened  with  ribbons  and  spangles.  Next 
came  the  remainder  of  the  troop  on  foot,  some  of  them 
carrying  children  on  their  shoulders  in  dangerous 
postures,  yet  smoothly  and  lightly :  among  these 
the  young,  dark,  black-haired  figure  again  attracted 
Wilhelm's  notice. 

Pickleherring  ran  gaily  up  and  down  the  crowded 
multitude,  distributing  his  handbills  with  much  prac- 
tical fun,  —  here  smacking  the  hps  of  a  girl,  there 
breeching  a  boy,  and  awakening  generally  among  the 
people  an  invincible  desire  to  know  more  of  him. 

On  the  painted  flags,  the  manifold  science  of  the 
company  was  visibly  delineated,  particularly  of  the 
Monsieur  Narciss  and  the  Demoiselle  Landrinette :  both 
of  whom,  being  main  characters,  had  prudently  kept 
back  from  the  procession,  thereby  to  acquire  a  more 
dignified  consideration,  and  excite  a  greater  curiosity. 

During  the  procession,  Wilhelm's  fair  neighbour  had 
again  appeared  at  the  window ;  and  he  did  not  fail  to 
inquire  about  her  of  his  new  companion.  This  person, 
whom  for  the  present  we  shall  call  Laertes,  offered  to 
take  Wilhelm  over  and  introduce  him.  "  I  and  the 
lady,"  said  he  laugliing,  "  are  two  fragments  of  an 
acting  company  that  made  shipwreck  here  a  short 
while  ago.  The  pleasantness  of  the  place  has  induced 
us  to  stay  in  it,  and  consume  our  little  stock  of  cash 
in  peace ;  while  one  of  our  friends  is  out  seeking  some 
situation  for  himself  and  us." 


112  MEISTER'S  APPRENTICESHIP 

Laertes  immediately  accompanied  his  new  acquaint- 
ance to  Philina's  door ;  where  he  left  him  for  a 
moment,  and  ran  to  a  shop  hard  by  for  a  few  sweet- 
meats. "  I  am  sure  you  will  thank  me,"  said  he,  on 
returning,  "  for  procuring  you  so  pleasant  an  acquaint- 
ance." 

The  lady  came  out  from  her  room,  in  a  pair  of  tight 
little  slippers  with  high  heels,  to  give  them  welcome. 
She  had  thrown  a  black  mantle  over  her,  above  a 
white  negligee,  not  indeed  superstitiously  clean ;  which, 
however,  for  that  very  reason,  gave  her  a  more  frank 
and  domestic  an-.  Her  short  dress  did  not  hide  a  pair 
of  the  prettiest  feet  and  ankles  in  the  world. 

"  You  are  welcome,"  she  cried  to  "Wilhelm,  "  and  I 
thank  you  for  your  charming  flowers."  She  led  him 
into  her  chamber  with  the  one  hand,  pressing  the 
nosegay  to  her  breast  with  the  other.  Being  all 
seated,  and  got  into  a  pleasant  train  of  general  talk,  to 
which  she  had  the  art  of  giving  a  dehghtful  turn, 
Laertes  threw  a  handful  of  gingerbread-nuts  into  her 
lap ;  and  she  immediately  began  to  eat  them. 

"  Look  what  a  child  this  young  gallant  is ! "  she 
said  :  "  he  wants  to  persuade  you  that  I  am  fond  of 
such  confectionery,  and  it  is  himseK  that  cannot  live 
without  hcking  his  hps  over  something  of  the  kind." 

"  Let  us  confess,"  rephed  Laertes,  "  that  in  this 
point,  as  in  others,  you  and  I  go  hand  in  hand.  For 
example,"  he  continued,  "  the  weather  is  delightful  to- 
day :  what  if  we  should  take  a  drive  into  the  country, 
and  eat  our  dinner  at  the  Mill  ? " 

"  With  all  my  heart,"  said  Phihna :  "  we  must  give 
our  new  acquaintance  some  diversion." 

Laertes  sprang  out,  for  he  never  walked :  and 
Wilhelm  motioned  to  return  for  a  minute  to  his  lodg- 
ings, to  have  his  hair  put  in  order ;  for  at  present  it 
was  all  dishevelled  with  riding.  "  You  can  do  it 
here,"  she  said,  then  called  her  little  servant,  and  con- 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  113 

strained  Wilhelm  in  the  politest  manner  to  lay  off  his 
coat,  to  throw  her  powder-mantle  over  him,  and  to 
have  his  head  dressed  in  her  presence.  "  We  must 
lose  no  time,"  said  she :  "  who  knows  how  short  a 
while  we  may  all  be  together  ?  " 

The  boy,  out  of  sulkiness  and  ill  nature  more  than 
want  of  skill,  went  on  but  indifferently  with  his  task : 
he  pulled  the  hair  with  his  implements,  and  seemed  as 
if  he  would  not  soon  be  done.  Philina  more  than 
once  reproved  him  for  his  blunders,  and  at  last  sharply 
packed  him  off",  and  chased  him  to  the  door.  She 
then  undertook  the  business  herself,  and  frizzled 
Wilhelm's  locks  with  great  dexterity  and  grace; 
though  she,  too,  appeared  to  be  in  no  exceeding  haste, 
but  found  always  this  and  that  to  improve  and  put  to 
rights;  while  at  the  same  time  she  could  not  help 
touching  his  knees  with  hers,  and  holding  her  nosegay 
and  bosom  so  near  his  lips,  that  he  was  strongly 
tempted  more  than  once  to  imprint  a  kiss  on  it. 

When  Wilhelm  had  cleaned  his  brow  with  a  little 
powder-knife,  she  said  to  him,  "  Put  it  in  your  pocket, 
and  think  of  me  when  you  see  it."  It  was  a  pretty 
knife :  the  haft,  of  inlaid  steel,  had  these  friendly 
words  wrought  on  it,  "  Think  of  me."  Wilhelm  put  it 
up,  and  thanked  her,  begging  permission  at  the  same 
time  to  make  her  a  little  present  in  return. 

At  last  they  were  in  readiness.  Laertes  had  brought 
round  the  coach,  and  they  commenced  a  very  gay  ex- 
cursion. To  every  beggar,  Philina  threw  out  money 
from  the  window ;  giving  along  with  it  a  merry  and 
friendly  word. 

Scarcely  had  they  reached  the  Mill,  and  ordered 
dinner,  when  a  strain  of  music  struck  up  before  the 
house.  It  was  some  miners  singing  various  pretty 
songs,  and  accompanying  their  clear  and  shrill  voices 
with  a  cithern  and  triangle.  In  a  short  while  the 
gathering  crowd  had  formed  a  ring  about  them,  and 


114  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

our  company  nodded  approbation  to  them  from  the 
windows.  Observing  this  attention,  they  expanded 
their  .circle,  and  seemed  making  preparation  for  their 
grandest  piece.  After  some  pause,  a  miner  stepped 
forward  with  a  mattock  in  his  hand ;  and,  while  the 
others  played  a  serious  tune,  he  set  himself  to  repre- 
sent the  action  of  digging. 

Ere  long  a  peasant  came  from  among  the  crowd, 
and,  by  pantomimic  threats,  let  the  former  know  that 
he  must  cease  and  remove.  Our  company  were 
greatly  surprised  at  this :  they  did  not  discover  that 
the  peasant  was  a  miner  in  disguise,  till  he  opened  his 
mouth,  and,  in  a  sort  of  recitative,  rebuked  the  other 
for  daring  to  meddle  with  his  field.  The  latter  did 
not  lose  his  composure  of  mind,  but  began  to  inform 
the  husbandman  about  his  right  to  break  ground 
there;  giving  him  withal  some  primary  conceptions 
of  mineralogy.  The  peasant,  not  being  master  of  his 
foreign  terminology,  asked  all  manner  of  silly  ques- 
tions :  whereat  the  spectators,  as  themselves  more 
knowing,  set  up  many  a  hearty  laugh.  The  miner 
endeavoured  to  instruct  him,  and  showed  him  the 
advantage,  which,  in  the  long  run,  would  reach  even 
him,  if  the  deep-lying  treasures  of  the  land  were  dug 
out  from  their  secret  beds.  The  peasant,  who  at  first 
had  threatened  his  instructor  with  blows,  was  gradu- 
ally pacified;  and  they  parted  good  friends  at  last, 
though  it  was  the  miner  chiefly  that  got  out  of  this 
contention  with  honour. 

"  In  this  little  dialogue,"  said  Wilhelm,  when  seated 
at  the  table,  "  we  have  a  lively  proof  how  useful  the 
theatre  might  be  to  all  ranks ;  what  advantage  even 
the  state  might  procure  from  it,  if  the  occupations, 
trades,  and  undertakings  of  men  were  brought  upon 
the  stage,  and  presented  on  their  praiseworthy  side,  in 
that  point  of  view  in  which  the  state  itself  should  hon- 
our and  protect  them.     As  matters  stand,  we  exhibit 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  115 

only  the  ridiculous  side  of  men :  the  comic  poet  is,  as 
it  were,  but  a  spiteful  tax-gatherer,  who  keeps  a  watch- 
ful eye  over  the  errors  of  his  fellow  subjects,  and 
seems  gratified  when  he  can  fix  any  charge  upon  them. 
Might  it  not  be  a  worthy  and  pleasing  task  for  a 
statesman  to  survey  the  natural  and  reciprocal  influ- 
ence of  all  classes  on  each  other,  and  to  guide  some 
poet,  gifted  with  sufficient  humour,  in  such  labours  as 
these  ?  In  this  way,  I  am  persuaded,  many  very  en- 
tertaining, both  agreeable  and  useful,  pieces,  might  be 
executed." 

"  So  far,"  said  Laertes,  "  as  I,  in  wandering  about 
the  world,  have  been  able  to  observe,  statesmen  are 
accustomed  merely  to  forbid,  to  hinder,  to  refuse,  but 
very  rarely  to  invite,  to  further,  to  reward.  They  let 
all  things  go  along,  till  some  mischief  happens :  then 
they  get  into  a  rage,  and  lay  about  them." 

"  A  truce  with  state  and  statesmen  !  "  said  Philina : 
"  I  cannot  form  a  notion  of  statesmen  except  in  peri- 
wigs; and  a  periwig,  wear  it  who  will,  always  gives 
my  fingers  a  spasmodic  motion :  I  could  like  to  pluck 
it  off  the  venerable  gentleman,  to  skip  up  and  down 
the  room  with  it,  and  laugh  at  the  bald  head." 

So,  with  a  few  lively  songs,  which  she  could  sing 
very  beautifully,  Philina  cut  short  their  conversation, 
and  urged  them  to  a  quick  return  homewards,  that 
they  might  arrive  in  time  for  seeing  the  performance 
of  the  rope-dancers  in  the  evening.  On  the  road  back 
she  continued  her  lavish  generosity,  in  a  style  of 
gaiety  reaching  to  extravagance ;  for  at  last,  every 
coin  belonging  to  herself  or  her  companions  being 
spent,  she  threw  her  straw  hat  from  the  window  to  a 
girl,  and  her  neckerchief  to  an  old  woman,  who  asked 
her  for  alms. 

Philina  invited  both  of  her  attendants  to  her  own 
apartments,  because,  she  said,  the  spectacle  could  be  seen 
more  conveniently  from  her  windows  than  from  theirs. 


Ii6  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

On  arriving,  they  found  the  stage  set  up,  and  the 
backgi'ound  decked  with  suspended  carpets.  The 
swing-boards  were  already  fastened,  the  slack-rope 
fixed  to  posts,  the  tight-rope  bound  over  trestles.  The 
square  was  moderately  filled  with  people,  and  the 
windows  with  spectators  of  some  quality. 

Pickleherring,  with  a  few  insipidities,  at  which  the 
lookers-on  are  generally  kind  enough  to  laugh,  first 
prepared  the  meeting  to  attention  and  good  humour. 
Some  children,  whose  bodies  were  made  to  exhibit  the 
strangest  contortions,  awakened  astonishment  or  hor- 
ror ;  and  Wilhelm  could  not,  without  the  deepest 
sympathy,  see  the  child  he  had  at  the  first  glance  felt 
an  interest  in,  go  through  her  fantastic  positions  with 
considerable  difficulty.  But  the  merry  tumblers  soon 
changed  the  feeling  into  that  of  Hvely  satisfaction, 
when  they  first  singly,  then  in  rows,  and  at  last  all 
together,  vaulted  up  into  the  air,  making  somersets 
backwards  and  forwards.  A  loud  clapping  of  hands 
and  a  strong  huzza  echoed  from  the  whole  assembly. 

The  general  attention  was  next  directed  to  quite  a 
different  object.  The  children  in  succession  had  to 
mount  the  rope,  —  the  learners  first,  that  by  practising 
they  might  prolong  the  spectacle,  and  show  the  difii- 
culties  of  the  art  more  clearly.  Some  men  and  full- 
grown  women  likewise  exhibited  their  skill  to  moderate 
advantage  ;  but  still  there  was  no  Monsieur  Narciss,  no 
Demoiselle  Landrinette. 

At  last  this  worthy  pair  came  forth :  they  issued 
from  a  kind  of  tent  with  red  spread  curtains,  and,  by 
their  agreeable  forms  and  glittering  decorations,  ful- 
filled the  hitherto  increasing  hopes  of  the  spectators. 
He,  a  hearty  knave,  of  middle  stature,  with  black 
eyes  and  a  strong  head  of  hair ;  she,  formed  with  not 
inferior  symmetry,  —  exhibited  themselves  successively 
upon  the  rope,  with  dehcate  movements,  leaping,  and 
singular  postures.     Her  airy  lightness,  his  audacity; 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  117 

the  exactitude  with  which  they  both  performed  their 
feats  of  art,  —  raised  the  universal  satisfaction  higher 
at  every  step  and  spring.  The  statehness  with  which 
they  bore  themselves,  the  seeming  attentions  of  the 
rest  to  them,  gave  them  the  appearance  of  king  and 
queen  of  the  whole  troop ;  and  all  held  them  worthy 
of  the  rank. 

The  animation  of  the  people  spread  to  the  spectators 
at  the  windows  :  the  ladies  looked  incessantly  at  Nar- 
ciss,  the  gentlemen  at  Landrinette.  The  populace 
hurrahed,  the  more  cultivated  public  could  not  keep 
from  clapping  of  the  hands :  Pickleherring  now  could 
scarcely  raise  a  laugh.  A  few,  however,  slunk  away 
when  some  members  of  the  troop  began  to  press 
through  the  crowd  with  their  tin  plates  to  collect 
money. 

"  They  have  made  their  purpose  good,  I  imagine," 
said  Wilhelm  to  Philina,  who  was  leaning  over  the 
window  beside  him.  "  I  admire  the  ingenuity  with 
which  they  have  turned  to  advantage  even  the  mean- 
est parts  of  their  performance :  out  of  the  unskilfulness 
of  their  children,  and  exquisiteness  of  their  chief  actors, 
they  have  made  up  a  whole  which  at  first  excited  our 
attention,  and  then  gave  us  very  fine  entertainment." 

The  people  by  degrees  dispersed ;  and  the  square 
was  again  become  empty,  while  Philina  and  Laertes 
were  disputing  about  the  forms  and  the  skill  of  Narciss 
and  Landrinette,  and  rallying  each  other  on  the  subject 
at  great  length.  Wilhelm  noticed  the  wonderful  child 
standing  on  the  street  near  some  other  children  at 
play :  he  showed  her  to  Philina,  who,  in  her  lively 
way,  immediately  called  and  beckoned  to  the  little 
one,  and,  this  not  succeeding,  tripped  singing  down- 
stairs, and  led  her  up  by  the  hand. 

"  Here  is  the  enigma,"  said  she,  as  she  brought  her 
to  the  door.  The  child  stood  upon  the  threshold,  as 
if  she  meant  again  to  run  off;  laid  her  right  hand  on 


ii8  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

her  breast,  the  left  on  her  brow,  and  bowed  deeply. 
"  Fear  nothing,  my  httle  dear,"  said  Wilhelm,  rising, 
and  going  toward  her.  She  viewed  him  with  a  doubt- 
ing look,  and  came  a  few  steps  nearer. 

"  What  is  thy  name  ? "  he  asked.  "  They  call  me 
Mignon."  "  How  old  art  thou  ?  "  "  No  one  has  counted." 
"  Who  was  thy  father  ?  "  "  The  Great  Devil  is  dead." 

"  Well !  this  is  singular  enough,"  said  Philina.  They 
asked  her  a  few  more  questions :  she  gave  her  answers 
in  a  kind  of  broken  German,  and  with  a  strangely 
solemn  manner ;  every  time  laying  her  hands  on  her 
breast  and  brow,  and  bowing  deeply. 

Wilhelm  could  not  satisfy  himself  with  looking  at 
her.  His  eyes  and  his  heart  were  irresistibly  attracted 
by  the  mysterious  condition  of  this  being.  He  reck- 
oned her  about  twelve  or  thirteen  years  of  age :  her 
body  was  well  formed,  only  her  limbs  gave  promise  of 
a  stronger  growth,  or  else  announced  a  stunted  one. 
Her  countenance  was  not  regular,  but  striking;  her 
brow  full  of  mystery ;  her  nose  extremely  beautiful ; 
her  mouth,  although  it  seemed  too  closely  shut  for  one 
of  her  age,  and  though  she  often  threw  it  to  a  side, 
had  yet  an  air  of  frankness,  and  was  very  lovely.  Her 
brownish  complexion  could  scarcely  be  discerned 
through  the  paint.  This  form  stamped  itself  deeply  in 
Wilhelm's  soul :  he  kept  looking  at  her  earnestly,  and 
forgot  the  present  scene  in  the  multitude  of  his  reflec- 
tions. Philina  waked  him  from  his  half-dream,  by 
holding  out  the  remainder  of  her  sweetmeats  to  the 
child,  and  giving  her  a  sign  to  go  away.  She  made 
her  little  bow  as  formerly,  and  darted  like  lightning 
through  the  door. 

As  the  time  drew  on  when  our  new  friends  had  to 
part  for  the  evening,  they  planned  a  fresh  excursion 
for  the  morrow.  They  purposed  now  to  have  their 
dinner  at  a  neighbouring  Jdgerhcms.  Before  taking 
leave  of  Laertes,  Wilhelm  said  many  things  in  Phihna's 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  119 

praise,  to  which  the  other  made  only  brief  and  careless 
answers. 

Next  morning,  having  once  more  exercised  them- 
selves in  fencing  for  an  hour,  they  went  over  to 
Phihna's  lodging,  toward  which  they  had  seen  their 
expected  coach  passing  by.  But  how  surprised  was 
Wilhelm,  when  the  coach  seemed  altogether  to  have 
vanished ;  and  how  much  more  so,  when  Philina  was 
not  to  be  found  at  home  !  She  had  placed  herself  in 
the  carriage,  they  were  told,  with  a  couple  of  strangers 
who  had  come  that  morning,  and  was  gone  with  them. 
Wilhelm  had  been  promising  himself  some  pleasant 
entertainment  from  her  company,  and  could  not  hide 
his  irritation.  Laertes,  on  the  other  hand,  but  laughed 
at  it,  and  cried,  "  I  love  her  for  this :  it  looks  so  like 
herself  !  Let  us,  however,  go  directly  to  the  Jdgerhaus  : 
be  Philina  where  she  pleases,  we  will  not  lose  our 
promenade  on  her  account." 

As  Wilhelm,  while  they  walked,  continued  censur- 
ing the  inconsistency  of  such  conduct,  Laertes  said, 
"  I  cannot  reckon  it  inconsistent  so  long  as  one  keeps 
faithful  to  his  character.  If  this  Philina  plans  you 
anything,  or  promises  you  anything,  she  does  it  under 
the  tacit  condition  that  it  shall  be  quite  convenient  for 
her  to  fulfil  her  plan,  to  keep  her  promise.  She  gives 
wilUngly,  but  you  must  ever  hold  yourself  in  readiness 
to  return  her  gifts." 

"  That  seems  a  singular  character,"  said  Wilhelm. 

"  Anything  but  singular  :  only  she  is  not  a  hypocrite. 
I  like  her  on  that  account.  Yes :  I  am  her  friend,  be- 
cause she  represents  the  sex  so  truly,  which  I  have  so 
much  cause  to  hate.  To  me  she  is  another  genuine 
Eve,  the  great  mother  of  womankind :  so  are  they  all, 
only  they  will  not  all  confess  it." 

With  abundance  of  such  talk,  in  which  Laertes  very 
vehemently  exhibited  his  spleen  against  the  fair  sex, 
without,  however,  giving  any  cause  for  it,  they  arrived 


I20  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

at  the  forest ;  into  which  Wilhelm  entered  in  no  joyful 
mood,  the  speeches  of  Laertes  having  again  revived  in 
him  the  memory  of  his  relation  to  Mariana.  ]N"ot  far 
from  a  shady  well,  among  some  old  and  noble  trees, 
they  found  Phihna  sitting  by  herself  at  a  stone  table. 
Seeing  them,  she  struck  up  a  merry  song ;  and,  when 
Laertes  asked  for  her  companions,  she  cried  out,  "  I 
have  already  cozened  them :  I  have  already  had  my 
laugh  at  them,  and  sent  them  a-travelling,  as  they  de- 
served. By  the  way  hither  I  had  put  to  proof  their 
liberahty ;  and,  finding  that  they  were  a  couple  of  your 
close-fisted  gentry,  I  immediately  determined  to  have 
amends  of  them.  On  arriving  at  the  inn,  they  asked 
the  waiter  what  was  to  be  had.  He,  with  his  custom- 
ary glibness  of  tongue,  reckoned  over  all  that  could  be 
found  in  the  house,  and  more  than  could  be  found.  I 
noticed  their  perplexity :  they  looked  at  one  another, 
stammered,  and  inquired  about  the  cost.  'What  is 
the  use  of  all  this  studying  ? '  said  I.  '  The  table  is 
the  lady's  business :  allow  me  to  manage  it.'  I  im- 
mediately began  ordering  a  most  unconscionable  din- 
ner, for  which  many  necessary  articles  would  require 
to  be  sent  for  from  the  neighbourhood.  The  waiter,  of 
whom,  by  a  wry  mouth  or  two,  I  had  made  a  confidant, 
at  last  helped  me  out ;  and  so,  by  the  image  of  a 
sumptuous  feast,  we  tortured  them  to  such  a  degree 
that  they  fau-ly  determined  on  ha\dng  a  walk  in  the 
forest,  from  which  I  imagine  we  shall  look  with  clear 
eyes  if  we  see  them  come  again.  I  have  laughed  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  for  my  own  behoof ;  I  shall  laugh 
for  ever  when  I  think  of  the  looks  they  had."  At  table, 
Laertes  told  of  similar  adventures :  they  got  into  the 
track  of  recounting  ludicrous  stories,  mistakes,  and 
dexterous  cheats. 

A  young  man  of  their  acquaintance,  from  the  town, 
came  gliding  through  the  wood  with  a  book  in  his 
hand :  he  sat  down  by  them,  and  began  praising  the 


.-^r-i^i^v  't  ^-'"ji . 


^-jsxf-^r.T'' 


^ 


' ' '  tsij^  toy  A-«^vjtA  Wj^Az  \  • " 

floiibani  .W  \d  j^rthnrBq  aril  moi^  aif/vBisoJoril 


)  J.  L>.     I    ■_-■'_    J.  L         <A  C         *.»- 


::jk  Up  a  inPTTT  song;  i 
for  her  compan  le  cried  out,  "  1 

jzened  them:  I  ha  ady  had  ^ 

it  thp-  .      . 

1  to  iiave 
aniving  at  the  inn,  they  asked 

■1  his  custom- 

T 

t  the 


look  with  clear 
have 

i;  I  shall  ian  ' 
'  nd."    A^  '    ' 


:  their  acquaintance,  fr 


li<  L     I  'cuai ' 


"  '  /  s^^//  laugh  for  ever '  " 

Photogravure  from  the  painting  by  W.  Friedrich 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  121 

beauty  of  the  place.  He  directed  their  attention  to 
the  murmuring  of  the  brook,  to  the  waving  of  the 
boughs,  to  the  checkered  lights  and  shadows,  and  the 
music  of  the  birds.  Philina  commenced  a  little  song 
of  the  cuckoo,  which  did  not  seem  at  all  to  exhilarate 
the  man  of  taste :  he  very  soon  made  his  compliments, 
and  went  on. 

"  Oh  that  I  might  never  hear  more  of  nature,  and 
scenes  of  nature  ! "  cried  Philina,  so  soon  as  he  was 
gone :  "  there  is  nothing  in  the  world  more  intolerable 
than  to  hear  people  reckon  up  the  pleasures  you  enjoy. 
When  the  day  is  bright  you  go  to  walk,  as  to  dance 
when  you  hear  a  tune  played.  But  who  would  think 
a  moment  on  the  music  or  the  weather  ?  It  is  the 
dancer  that  interests  us,  not  the  violin ;  and  to  look 
upon  a  pair  of  bright  black  eyes  is  the  life  of  a  pair  of 
blue  ones.  But  what  on  earth  have  we  to  do  with 
wells  and  brooks,  and  old  rotten  lindens  ?  "  She  was 
sitting  opposite  to  Wilhelm ;  and,  while  speaking  so, 
she  looked  into  his  eyes  with  a  glance  which  he  could 
not  hinder  from  piercing  at  least  to  the  very  door  of 
his  heart. 

"  You  are  right,"  replied  he,  not  without  embar- 
rassment :  "  man  is  ever  the  most  interesting  object 
to  man,  and  perhaps  should  be  the  only  one  that  in- 
terests. Whatever  else  surrounds  us  is  but  the  ele- 
ment in  which  we  live,  or  else  the  instrument  which 
we  employ.  The  more  we  devote  ourselves  to  such 
things,  the  more  we  attend  to  and  feel  concern  in  them, 
the  weaker  will  our  sense  of  our  own  dignity  become, 
the  weaker  our  feelings  for  society.  Men  who  put  a 
^great  value  on  gardens,  buildings,  clothes,  ornaments, 
or  any  other  sort  of  property,  grow  less  social  and 
pleasant :  they  lose  sight  of  their  brethren,  whom  very 
few  can  succeed  in  collecting  about  them  and  enter- 
taining. Have  you  not  observed  it  on  the  stage  ?  A 
good  actor  makes  us  very  soon  forget  the  awkwardness 


122  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

and  meanness  of  paltry  decorations,  but  a  splendid 
theatre  is  the  very  thing  which  first  makes  us  truly 
feel  the  want  of  proper  actors. 

After  dinner  Philina  sat  down  among  the  long,  over- 
shaded  grass,  and  commanded  both  her  friends  to  fetch 
her  flowers  in  great  quantities.  She  wreathed  a  com- 
plete garland,  and  put  it  round  her  head :  it  made  her 
look  extremely  charming.  The  flowers  were  still  suf- 
ficient for  another :  this,  too,  she  plaited,  while  both 
the  young  men  sat  beside  her.  \\Tien,  at  last,  amid 
infinite  mirth  and  sportfulness,  it  was  completed,  she 
pressed  it  on  Wilhelm's  head  with  the  greatest  dignity, 
and  shifted  the  posture  of  it  more  than  once,  till  it 
seemed  to  her  properly  adjusted.  "  And  I,  it  appears, 
must  go  empty,"  said  Laertes. 

"  Not  by  any  means :  you  shall  not  have  reason  to 
complain,"  replied  Phihna,  taking  off  the  garland  from 
her  own  head,  and  putting  it  on  his. 

"  If  we  were  rivals,"  said  Laertes,  "  we  might  now 
dispute  very  warmly  which  of  us  stood  higher  in  thy 
favour." 

"  And  the  more  fools  you,"  said  she,  while  she  bent 
herself  toward  him,  and  offered  him  her  lips  to  kiss ; 
and  then  immediately  turned  round,  threw  her  arm 
about  Wilhelm,  and  bestowed  a  kind  salute  on  him 
also.     "  "\Miich  of  them  tastes  best  ?  "  said  she  archly. 

"  Surprisingly  !  "  exclaimed  Laertes  :  "  it  seems  as  if 
nothing  else  had  ever  such  a  tang  of  wormwood  in 
it." 

"  As  httle  wormwood,"  she  replied, "  as  any  gift  that 
a  man  may  enjoy  "without  envy  and  without  conceit. 
But  now,"  she  cried,  "  I  should  like  to  have  an  hour's 
dancing ;  and  after  that  we  must  look  to  our  vaulters." 

Accordingly,  they  went  into  the  house,  and  there 
found  music  in  readiness.  Philina  was  a  beautiful 
dancer :  she  animated  both  her  companions.  Nor  was 
Wilhelm  without  skill;  but  he  wanted  careful  prac- 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  123 

tice,  a  defect  which  his  two  friends  voluntarily  took 
charge  of  remedying. 

In  these  amusements  the  time  passed  on  insensibly. 
It  was  already  late  when  they  returned.  The  rope- 
dancers  had  commenced  their  operations.  A  multi- 
tude of  people  had  again  assembled  in  the  square ;  and 
our  friends,  on  alighting,  were  struck  by  the  appear- 
ance of  a  tumult  in  the  crowd,  occasioned  by  a  throng 
of  men  rushing  toward  the  door  of  the  inn,  which 
Wilhelm  had  now  turned  his  face  to.  He  sprang 
forward  to  see  what  it  was ;  and,  pressing  through  the 
people,  he  was  struck  with  horror  to  observe  the 
master  of  the  rope-dancing  company  dragging  poor 
Mignon  by  the  hair  out  of  the  house,  and  unmerci- 
fully beating  her  little  body  with  the  handle  of  a 
whip. 

Wilhelm  darted  on  the  man  like  lightning,  and 
seized  him  by  the  collar.  "  Quit  the  child  ! "  he  cried, 
in  a  furious  tone,  "  or  one  of  us  shall  never  leave  this 
spot ! "  and,  so  speaking,  he  grasped  the  fellow  by  the 
throat  with  a  force  which  only  rage  could  have  lent 
him.  The  showman,  on  the  point  of  choking,  let  go 
the  child,  and  endeavoured  to  defend  himself  against 
his  new  assailant.  But  some  people,  who  had  felt 
compassion  for  Mignon,  yet  had  not  dared  to  begin  a 
quarrel  for  her,  now  laid  hold  of  the  rope-dancer, 
wrenched  his  whip  away,  and  threatened  him  with 
great  fierceness  and  abuse.  Being  now  reduced  to  the 
weapons  of  his  mouth,  he  began  bullying,  and  cursing 
horribly.  The  lazy,  worthless  urchin,  he  said,  would 
not  do  her  duty  ;  refused  to  perform  the  egg-dance, 
which  he  had  promised  to  the  public ;  he  would  beat 
her  to  death,  and  no  one  should  hinder  him.  He  tried 
to  get  loose,  and  seek  the  child,  who  had  crept  away 
among  the  crowd.  Wilhelm  held  him  back,  and  said 
sternly,  "  You  shall  neither  see  nor  touch  her,  till  you 
have  explained  before  a   magistrate  where  you  stole 


124  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

her.  I  will  pursue  you  to  every  extremity.  You  shall 
not  escape  me."  These  words,  which  Wilhelm  uttered 
in  heat,  without  thought  or  purpose,  out  of  some  vague 
feehng,  or,  if  you  will,  out  of  inspiration,  soon  brought 
the  raging  showman  to  composure.  "  What  have  I  to 
do  with  the  useless  brat  ? "  cried  he.  "  Pay  me  what 
her  clothes  cost,  and  make  of  her  what  you  please. 
We  shall  settle  it  to-night."  And,  being  liberated,  he 
made  haste  to  resume  his  interrupted  operations,  and 
to  calm  the  irritation  of  the  pubhc  by  some  striking 
displays  of  his  craft. 

As  soon  as  all  was  still  again,  Wilhelm  commenced 
a  search  for  Mignon,  whom,  however,  he  could  no- 
where find.  Some  said  they  had  seen  her  on  the 
street,  others  on  the  roofs  of  the  adjoining  houses ; 
but,  after  seeking  unsuccessfully  in  all  quarters,  he 
was  forced  to  content  himself,  and  wait  to  see  if  she 
would  not  again  turn  up  of  herself. 

In  the  meantime,  Narciss  had  come  into  the  house ; 
and  Wilhelm  set  to  question  him  about  the  birthplace 
and  history  of  the  child.  Monsieur  ISTarciss  knew 
nothing  about  these  things,  for  he  had  not  long  been 
in  the  company ;  but  in  return  he  recited,  with  much 
volubility  and  levity,  various  particulars  of  his  own 
fortune.  Upon  Wilhelm's  wishing  him  joy  of  the 
great  approbation  he  had  gained,  Narciss  expressed 
himself  as  if  exceedingly  indifferent  on  that  point. 
"  People  laugh  at  us,"  he  said,  "  and  admire  our  feats 
of  skill ;  but  their  admiration  does  nothing  for  us. 
The  master  has  to  pay  us,  and  may  raise  the  funds 
where  he  pleases."  He  then  took  his  leave,  and  was 
setting  off  in  great  haste. 

At  the  question,  whither  he  was  bent  so  fast,  the 
dog  gave  a  smile,  and  admitted  that  his  figure  and 
talents  had  acquired  for  him  a  more  solid  species  of 
favour  than  the  huzzaing  of  the  multitude.  He  had 
been  invited  by  some  young  ladies,  who  desired  much 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  125 

to  become  acquainted  with  him ;  and  he  was  afraid  it 
would  be  midnight  before  he  could  get  all  his  visits 
over.  He  proceeded  with  the  greatest  candour  to  detail 
his  adventures.  He  would  have  given  the  names  of 
his  patronesses,  their  streets  and  houses,  had  not  Wil- 
helm  waived  such  indiscretion,  and  pohtely  dismissed 
him. 

Laertes  had  meanwhile  been  entertaining  Landri- 
nette:  he  declared  that  she  was  fully  worthy  to  be 
and  to  remain  a  woman. 

Our  friend  next  proceeded  to  his  bargain  with  the 
showman  for  Mignon.  Thirty  crowns  was  the  price  set 
upon  her;  and  for  this  sum  the  black-bearded,  hot 
Itahan  entirely  surrendered  all  his  claims :  but  of  her 
history  or  parentage  he  would  discover  nothing,  only 
that  she  had  fallen  into  his  hands  at  the  death  of  his 
brother,  who,  by  reason  of  his  admirable  skill,  had 
usually  been  named  the  "  Great  Devil." 

Next  morning  was  chiefly  spent  in  searching  for  the 
child.  It  was  in  vain  that  they  rummaged  every  hole 
and  corner  of  the  house  and  neighbourhood :  the  child 
had  vanished;  and  Wilhelm  was  afraid  she  might 
have  leaped  into  some  pool  of  water,  or  destroyed  her- 
self in  some  other  way. 

Philina's  charms  could  not  divert  his  inquietude. 
He  passed  a  dreary,  thoughtful  day.  Nor  at  evening 
could  the  utmost  efforts  of  the  tumblers  and  dancers, 
exerting  all  their  powers  to  gratify  the  public,  divert 
the  current  of  his  thoughts,  or  clear  away  the  clouds 
from  his  mind. 

By  the  concourse  of  people  flocking  from  all  places 
round,  the  numbers  had  gi-eatly  increased  on  this 
occasion :  the  general  approbation  was  like  a  snowball 
rolHng  itself  into  a  monstrous  size.  The  feat  of  leap- 
ing over  swords,  and  through  the  cask  with  paper 
ends,  made  a  great  sensation. 

The  strong  man,  too,  produced  a  universal  feeling  of 


126  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

mingled  astonishment  and  horror,  when  he  laid  his 
head  and  feet  on  a  couple  of  separate  stools  and  then 
allowed  some  sturdy  smiths  to  place  a  stithy  on  the 
unsupported  part  of  his  body,  and  hammer  a  horseshoe 
till  it  was  completely  made  by  means  of  it. 

The  Hercules'  Strength,  as  they  called  it,  was  a  no 
less  wonderful  affair.  A  row  of  men  stood  up ;  then 
another  row,  upon  their  shoulders ;  then  women  and 
young  lads,  supported  in  like  manner  on  the  second 
row ;  so  that  finally  a  living  pyramid  was  formed ; 
the  peak  being  ornamented  by  a  child,  placed  on  its 
head,  and  dressed  out  in  the  shape  of  a  ball  and 
weather-vane.  Such  a  sight,  never  witnessed  in  those 
parts  before,  gave  a  worthy  termination  to  the  whole 
performance.  Narciss  and  Landrinette  were  then 
borne  in  litters,  on  the  shoulders  of  the  rest,  along  the 
chief  streets  of  the  town,  amid  the  triumphant  shouts 
of  the  people.  Ribbons,  nosegays,  silks,  were  thrown 
upon  them :  all  pressed  to  get  a  sight  of  them.  Each 
thought  himself  happy  if  he  could  behold  them,  and 
be  honoured  with  a  look  of  theirs. 

"  What  actor,  what  author,  nay,  what  man  of  any 
class,  would  not  regard  himself  as  on  the  summit  of 
his  wishes,  could  he,  by  a  noble  saying  or  a  worthy 
action,  produce  so  universal  an  impression  ?  AMiat  a 
precious  emotion  would  it  give,  if  one  could  dissemi- 
nate generous,  exalted,  manly  feehngs  with  electric 
force  and  speed,  and  rouse  assembled  thousands  into 
such  rapture,  as  these  people,  by  their  bodily  alertness, 
have  done !  If  one  could  communicate  to  thronging 
multitudes  a  fellow-feeling  in  all  that  belongs  to  man, 
by  the  portraying  of  happiness  and  misery,  of  wisdom 
and  folly,  nay,  of  absurdity  and  silliness ;  could  kindle 
and  thrill  their  inmost  souls,  and  set  their  stagnant 
nature  into  movement,  free,  vehement,  and  pure  '  "  So 
said  our  friend ;  and,  as  neither  Laertes  nor  Phihna 
showed  any  disposition  to  take  part  in  such  a  strain,  he 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  127 

entertained  himself  with  these  daring  speculations, 
walking  up  and  down  the  streets  till  late  at  night,  and 
again  pursuing,  with  all  the  force  and  vivacity  of  a 
liberated  imagination,  his  old  desire  to  have  all  that 
was  good  and  noble  and  great  embodied  and  shown 
forth  by  the  theatric  art. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Next  morning  the  rope-dancers,  not  without  much 
parade  and  bustle,  having  gone  away,  Mignou  immedi- 
ately appeared,  and  came  into  the  parlour  as  Wilhelm 
and  Laertes  were  busy  fencing.  "  Where  hast  thou 
been  hid  ?  "  said  Wilhelm,  in  a  friendly  tone.  "  Thou 
hast  given  us  a  great  deal  of  anxiety."  The  child 
looked  at  him,  and  answered  nothing.  "  Thou  art 
ours  now,"  cried  Laertes :  "  we  have  bought  thee." 
"  For  how  much  ? "  inquired  the  child  quite  coolly, 
"  For  a  hundred  ducats,"  said  the  other :  "  pay  them 
again,  and  thou  art  free."  "  Is  that  very  much  ? " 
she  asked.  "  Oh,  yes !  thou  must  now  be  a  good 
child."     "I  will  try,"  she  said. 

From  that  moment  she  observed  strictly  what  ser- 
vices the  waiter  had  to  do  for  both  her  friends ;  and 
after  next  day,  she  would  not  any  more  let  him  enter 
the  room.  She  persisted  in  doing  everything  herself, 
and  accordingly  went  through  her  duties,  slowly,  in- 
deed, and  sometimes  awkwardly,  yet  completely,  and 
with  the  greatest  care. 

She  was  frequently  observed  going  to  a  basin  of 
water,  and  washing  her  face  with  such  diligence  and 
violence,  that  she  almost  wore  the  skin  from  her 
cheeks ;  till  Laertes,  by  dint  of  questions  and  reproofs, 
learned  that  she  was  striving  by  all  means  to  get  the 
paint  from  her  skin,  and  that,  in  her  zealous  en- 
deavours toward  this  object,  she  had  mistaken  the 
redness  produced  by  rubbing  for  the  most  obdurate 
dye.  They  set  her  right  on  this  point,  and  she  ceased 
her   efforts;    after  which,  having  come  again  to  her 

128 


MEISTER'S    apprenticeship  129 

natural  state,  she  exhibited  a  fine  brown  complexion, 
beautiful,  though  sparingly  intermingled  with  red. 

The  siren  charms  of  Philina,  the  mysterious  pres- 
ence of  the  child,  produced  more  impression  on  our 
friend  than  he  liked  to  confess :  he  passed  several  days 
in  that  strange  society,  endeavouring  to  elude  self- 
reproaches  by  a  diligent  practice  of  fencing  and  danc- 
ing,—  accomplishments  which  he  believed  might  not 
again  be  put  within  his  reach  so  conveniently. 

It  was  with  gi'eat  surprise,  and  not  without  a  certain 
satisfaction,  that  he  one  day  observed  Herr  Melina 
and  his  wife  alight  at  the  inn.  After  the  first  glad 
salutation,  they  inquired  about  "  the  lady-manager  and 
the  other  actors,"  and  learned,  with  astonishment  and 
terror,  that  the  lady-manager  had  long  since  gone 
away,  and  her  actors,  to  a  very  few,  dispersed  them- 
selves about  the  country. 

This  couple,  subsequently  to  their  marriage,  in 
which,  as  we  know,  our  friend  did  his  best  to  serve 
them,  had  been  travelling  about  in  various  quarters, 
seeking  an  engagement,  without  finding  any,  and  had 
at  last  been  directed  to  this  little  town  by  some 
persons  who  met  them  on  their  journey,  and  said 
there  was  a  good  theatre  in  the  place. 

Melina  by  no  means  pleased  the  lively  Laertes, 
when  introduced  to  him,  any  more  than  his  wife  did 
PhiHna.  Both  heartily  wished  to  be  rid  of  these 
newcomers;  and  Wilhelm  could  inspire  them  with 
no  favourable  feelings  on  the  subject,  though  he  more 
than  once  assured  them  that  the  Melinas  were  very 
worthy  people. 

Indeed,  the  previous  merry  life  of  our  three  adven- 
turers was  interfered  with  by  this  extension  of  their 
society,  in  more  ways  than  one.  Melina  had  taken 
up  his  quarters  in  the  inn  where  PhiHna  stayed,  and 
he  very  soon  began  a  system  of  cheapening  and 
higgling.     He  would  have  better  lodging,  more  sump- 


I30  MEISTER'S   APPRENTICESHIP 

tiious  diet,  and  readier  attendance,  for  a  smaller  charge. 
In  a  short  while,  the  landlord  and  waiter  showed  very- 
rueful  looks ;  for  whereas  the  others,  to  get  pleasantly 
along,  had  expressed  no  discontent  with  anything,  and 
paid  instantly,  that  they  might  avoid  thinking  longer 
of  payment,  Melina  now  insisted  on  regulating  every 
meal,  and  investigating  its  contents  beforehand,  —  a 
species  of  service  for  which  Phihna  named  him,  with- 
out scruple,  a  ruminating  animal. 

Yet  more  did  the  merry  girl  hate  Melina's  wife. 
Frau  Melina  was  a  young  woman  not  without  culture, 
but  wofully  defective  in  soul  and  spirit.  She  could 
declaim  not  badly,  and  kept  declaiming  constantly ; 
but  it  was  easy  to  observe  that  her  performances  were 
little  more  than  recitations  of  words.  She  laboured 
a  few  detached  passages,  but  never  could  express  the 
feeling  of  the  whole.  Withal,  however,  she  was  seldom 
disagi'eeable  to  any  one,  especially  to  men.  On  the 
contrary,  people  who  enjoyed  her  acquaintance  com- 
monly ascribed  to  her  a  fine  understanding ;  for  she 
was  what  might  be  called  a  kind  of  spiritual  chame- 
leon, or  taker-on.  Any  friend  whose  favour  she  had 
need  of  she  could  flatter  with  pecuhar  adroitness, 
could  give  in  to  his  ideas  so  long  as  she  could  under- 
stand them,  and,  when  they  went  beyond  her  own 
horizon,  could  hail  with  ecstasy  such  new  and  brilliant 
visions.  She  understood  well  when  to  speak  and 
when  to  keep  silence ;  and,  though  her  disposition 
was  not  spiteful,  she  could  spy  out  with  great  expert- 
ness  where  another's  weak  side  lay. 


CHAPTER  VI 

Melina,  in  the  meantime,  had  been  making  strict 
inquiry  about  the  wrecks  of  the  late  theatrical  estab- 
lishment. The  wardrobe,  as  well  as  decorations,  had 
been  pawned  with  some  traders;  and  a  notary  had 
been  empowered,  under  certain  conditions,  to  dispose 
of  them  by  sale,  should  purchasers  occur.  Melina 
wished  to  see  this  ware,  and  he  took  Wilhelm  with 
him.  No  sooner  was  the  room  opened,  than  our  friend 
felt  toward  its  contents  a  kind  of  inchnation,  which  he 
would  not  confess  to  himself.  Sad  as  was  the  state 
of  the  blotched  and  tarnished  decorations ;  httle  showy 
as  the  Turkish  and  pagan  garments,  the  old  farce-coats 
for  men  and  women,  the  cowls  for  enchanters,  priests, 
and  Jews,  might  be,  —  he  was  not  able  to  exclude  the 
feeling,  that  the  happiest  moments  of  his  life  had  been 
spent  in  a  similar  magazine  of  frippery.  Could  Melina 
have  seen  into  his  heart,  he  would  have  urged  him 
more  pressingly  to  lay  out  a  sum  of  money  in  libera- 
ting these  scattered  fragments,  in  furbishing  them  up, 
and  again  combining  them  into  a  beautiful  whole. 

"  What  a  happy  man  could  I  be,"  cried  Melina,  "  had 
I  but  two  hundred  crowns,  to  get  into  my  hands,  for 
a  beginning,  these  fundamental  necessaries  of  a  theatre ! 
How  soon  should  I  get  up  a  little  playhouse,  that 
would  draw  contributions  from  the  town  and  neigh- 
bourhood, and  maintain  us  all ! "  Wilhelm  was  silent. 
They  left  these  treasures  of  the  stage  to  be  again 
locked  up,  and  both  went  away  in  a  reflective  mood. 

Thenceforth  Melina  talked  of  nothing  else  but  proj- 
ects and  plans  for  setting  up  a  theatre,  and  gaining 
profit  by  it.     He  tried  to  interest  Philina  and  Laertes 

131 


132  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

in  his  schemes ;  and  proposals  were  made  to  Wilhelm 
about  advancing  money,  and  taking  them  as  his  se- 
curity. On  this  occasion,  Wilhelm  first  clearly  per- 
ceived that  he  was  lingering  too  long  here :  he  excused 
himself,  and  set  about  making  preparations  for  depar- 
ture. 

In  the  meantime,  Mignon's  form,  and  manner  of 
existence,  were  growing  more  attractive  to  him  every 
day.  In  her  whole  system  of  proceedings  there  was 
something  very  singular.  She  never  walked  up  or 
down  the  stairs,  but  jumped.  She  would  spring  along 
by  the  railing,  and  before  you  were  aware  would  be 
sitting  quietly  above  upon  the  landing.  Wilhelm  had 
observed,  also,  that  she  had  a  different  sort  of  saluta- 
tion for  each  individual.  For  himself,  it  had  of  late 
been  with  her  arms  crossed  upon  her  breast.  Often 
for  the  whole  day  she  was  mute.  At  times  she  an- 
swered various  questions  more  freely,  yet  always 
strangely :  so  that  you  could  not  determine  whether 
it  was  caused  by  shrewd  sense,  or  ignorance  of  the 
language ;  for  she  spoke  in  broken  German  interlaced 
with  French  and  Itahan.  In  Wilhelm's  service  she 
was  indefatigable,  and  up  before  the  sun.  On  the 
other  hand,  she  vanished  early  in  the  evening,  went  to 
sleep  in  a  little  room  upon  the  bare  floor,  and  could 
not  by  any  means  be  induced  to  take  a  bed  or  even  a 
paillasse.  He  often  found  her  washing  herself.  Her 
clothes,  too,  were  kept  scrupulously  clean ;  though 
nearly  all  about  her  was  quilted  two  or  three  phes 
thick.  Wilhelm  was  moreover  told,  that  she  went 
every  morning  early  to  hear  mass.  He  followed  her 
on  one  occasion,  and  saw  her  kneeling  down  with  a 
rosary  in  a  corner  of  the  church,  and  praying  devoutly. 
She  did  not  observe  him ;  and  he  returned  home,  form- 
ing many  a  conjecture  about  this  appearance,  yet 
unable  to  arrive  at  any  probable  conclusion. 

A  new  application  from  MeUna  for  a  sum  of  money 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  133 

to  redeem  the  often-mentioned  stage  apparatus  caused 
Wilhelm  to  think  more  seriously  than  ever  about  set- 
ting off.  He  proposed  writing  to  his  people,  who  for 
a  long  time  had  heard  no  tidings  of  him,  by  the  very 
earhest  post.  He  accordingly  commenced  a  letter  to 
Werner,  and  had  advanced  a  considerable  way  with 
the  history  of  his  adventures,  in  recounting  which  he 
had  more  than  once  unintentionally  swerved  a  little 
from  the  truth,  when,  to  his  vexation  and  surprise,  he 
observed,  upon  the  back  of  his  sheet,  some  verses 
which  he  had  been  copying  from  his  album  for  Madam 
Mehna.  Out  of  humour  at  this  mistake,  he  tore  the 
paper  in  pieces,  and  put  off  repeating  his  confession 
till  the  next  post-day. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

Our  party  was  now  again  collected ;  and  Philina, 
who  always  kept  a  sharp  lookout  on  every  horse  or 
carriage  that  passed  by,  exclaimed  with  great  eager- 
ness, "  Our  Pedant !  Here  comes  our  dearest  Pedant ! 
Wlio  the  deuce  is  it  he  has  with  him  ? "  Speaking 
thus,  she  beckoned  at  the  window ;  and  the  vehicle 
drew  up. 

A  woful-looking  genius,  whom  by  his  shabby  coat 
of  grayish  brown,  and  his  ill-conditioned  lower  gar- 
ments, you  must  have  taken  for  some  unprosperous 
preceptor,  of  the  sort  that  moulder  in  our  universities, 
now  descended  from  the  carriage,  and,  taking  off  his 
hat  to  salute  Philina,  discovered  an  ill-powdered,  but 
yet  very  stiff,  periwig ;  while  Philina  threw  a  hundred 
kisses  of  the  hand  toward  him. 

As  Philina's  chief  enjoyment  lay  in  loving  one  class 
of  men,  and  being  loved  by  them  ;  so  there  was  a  second 
and  hardly  inferior  satisfaction,  wherewith  she  enter- 
tained herself  as  frequently  as  possible ;  and  this  con- 
sisted in  hoodwinking  and  passing  jokes  upon  the 
other  class,  whom  at  such  moments  she  happened  not 
to  love,  —  all  which  she  could  accomphsh  in  a  very 
sprightly  style. 

Amid  the  flourish  which  she  made  in  receiving  this 
old  friend,  no  attention  was  bestowed  upon  the  rest 
who  followed  him.  Yet  among  the  party  were  an 
oldish  man  and  two  young  girls,  whom  Wilhelm 
thought  he  knew.  Accordingly  it  turned  out,  that  he 
had  often  seen  them  all,  some  years  ago,  in  a  company 
then  playing  in  his  native  town.     The  daughters  had 

134 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  135 

grown  since  that  period :  the  old  man  was  a  little 
altered.  He  commonly  enacted  those  good-hearted, 
boisterous  old  gentlemen,  whom  the  German  theatre 
is  never  without,  and  whom,  in  common  life,  one  also 
frequently  enough  falls  in  with.  For  as  it  is  the  char- 
acter of  our  countrymen  to  do  good,  and  cause  it,  with- 
out pomp  or  circumstance;  so  they  seldom  consider 
that  there  is  likewise  a  mode  of  doing  what  is  right 
with  grace  and  dignity :  more  frequently,  indeed,  they 
yield  to  the  spirit  of  contradiction,  and  fall  into  the 
error  of  deforming  their  dearest  virtue  by  a  surly  mode 
of  putting  it  in  practice. 

Such  parts  our  actor  could  play  very  well ;  and  he 
played  them  so  often  and  exclusively,  that  he  had 
himself  taken  up  the  same  turn  of  proceeding  in  his 
ordinary  life. 

On  recognising  him,  Wilhelm  was  seized  with  a 
strong  commotion ;  for  he  recollected  how  often  he 
had  seen  this  man  on  the  stage  with  his  beloved 
Mariana :  he  still  heard  him  scolding,  still  heard  the 
small,  soothing  voice,  with  which  in  many  characters 
she  had  to  meet  his  rugged  temper. 

The  first  anxious  question  put  to  the  strangers, — 
Whether  they  had  heard  of  any  situation  in  their 
travels  ?  —  was  answered,  alas,  with  No  !  and,  to  com- 
plete the  information,  it  was  further  added,  that  all 
the  companies  they  had  fallen  in  with  were  not  only 
supplied  with  actors,  but  many  of  them  were  afraid 
lest,  on  account  of  the  approaching  war,  they  should 
be  forced  to  separate.  Old  Boisterous,  with  his  daugh- 
ters, moved  by  spleen  and  love  of  change,  had  given 
up  an  advantageous  engagement :  then,  meeting  with 
the  Pedant  by  the  way,  they  had  hired  a  carriage  to 
come  hither ;  where,  as  they  found,  good  counsel  was 
still  dear,  needful  to  have,  and  difficult  to  get. 

The  time  while  the  rest  were  talking  very  keenly  of 
their  circumstances,  Wilhelm  spent  in  thought.     He 


136  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

longed  to  speak  in  private  witli  the  old  man :  he 
wished  and  feared  to  hear  of  Mariana,  and  felt  the 
greatest  disquietude. 

The  pretty  looks  of  the  stranger  damsels  could  not 
call  him  from  his  dream ;  but  a  war  of  words,  which 
now  arose,  awakened  his  attention.  It  was  Friedrich, 
the  faii'-hau'ed  boy  who  used  to  attend  Philina,  stub- 
bornly refusing,  on  this  occasion,  to  cover  the  table 
and  bring  up  dinner.  "  I  engaged  to  serve  you," 
he  cried,  "but  not  to  wait  on  everybody."  They  fell 
into  a  hot  contest.  Philina  insisted  that  he  should  do 
his  duty ;  and,  as  he  obstinately  refused,  she  told  him 
plainly  he  might  go  about  his  business. 

"  You  think,  perhaps,  I  cannot  leave  you  ! "  cried  he 
sturdily,  then  went  to  pack  up  his  bundle,  and  soon 
hastily  quitted  the  house. 

"  Go,  Mignon,"  said  Philina,  "  and  get  us  what  we 
want :  tell  the  waiter,  and  help  him  to  attend  us." 

Mignon  came  before  Wilhelm,  and  asked  in  her 
laconic  way,  "Shall  I?  May  I?"  To  which  Wil- 
helm answered,  "  Do  all  the  lady  bids  thee,  child." 

She  accordingly  took  charge  of  everything,  and 
waited  on  the  guests  the  whole  evening,  mth  the 
utmost  carefulness.  After  dinner,  Wilhelm  proposed 
to  have  a  walk  with  the  old  man  alone.  Succeeding 
in  this,  after  many  questions  about  his  late  wanderings, 
the  conversation  turned  upon  the  former  company; 
and   Wilhelm  hazarded  a  question  touching  Mariana. 

"  Do  not  speak  to  me  of  that  despicable  creature  ! " 
cried  the  old  man :  "  I  have  sworn  to  think  of  her  no 
more."  Terrified  at  this  speech,  Wilhelm  felt  still 
more  embarrassed,  as  the  old  man  proceeded  to  \dtu- 
perate  her  fickleness  and  wantonness.  Most  gladly 
would  our  friend  have  broken  off  the  conversation,  but 
now  it  was  impossible :  he  was  obliged  to  undergo  the 
whole  tumultuous  effusions  of  this  strange  old  gentle- 
man. 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  137 

"  I  am  ashamed,"  continued  he,  "  that  I  felt  such  a 
friendship  for  her.  Yet,  had  you  known  the  girl 
better,  you  would  excuse  me.  She  was  so  pretty,  so 
natural  and  good,  so  pleasing,  in  every  sense  so  toler- 
able, I  could  never  have  supposed  that  ingratitude 
and  impudence  were  to  prove  the  chief  features  of  her 
character." 

Wilhelm  had  nerved  himself  to  hear  the  worst  of 
her;  when  all  at  once  he  observed,  with  astonishment, 
that  the  old  man's  tones  gi-ew  milder,  his  voice  faltered, 
and  he  took  out  his  handerchief  to  dry  the  tears,  which 
at  last  began  to  trickle  down  his  cheeks. 

"What  is  the  matter  with  you?"  cried  Wilhelm. 
"What  is  it  that  suddenly  so  changes  the  current  of 
your  feehngs  ?  Conceal  it  not  from  me.  I  take  a 
deeper  interest  in  the  fate  of  this  girl  than  you  suppose. 
Only  tell  me  all." 

"  I  have  not  much  to  say,"  replied  the  old  man, 
again  taking  up  his  earnest,  ang^iy  tone.  "  I  have  suf- 
fered more  from  her  than  I  shall  ever  forgive.  She 
had  always  a  kind  of  trust  in  me.  I  loved  her  as  my 
own  daughter;  indeed,  while  my  wife  lived,  I  had 
formed  a  resolution  to  take  the  creature  to  my  own 
house,  and  save  her  from  the  hands  of  that  old  crone, 
from  whose  guidance  I  boded  no  good.  But  my  wife 
died,  and  the  project  went  to  nothing. 

"  About  the  end  of  our  stay  in  your  native  town,  — 
it  is  not  quite  three  years  ago,  —  I  noticed  a  visible 
sadness  about  her.  I  questioned  her,  but  she  evaded 
me.  At  last  we  set  out  on  our  journey.  She  travelled 
in  the  same  coach  with  me ;  and  I  soon  observed,  what 
she  herself  did  not  long  deny,  that  she  was  with  child, 
and  .suffering  the  greatest  terror  lest  our  manager 
might  turn  her  off.  In  fact,  in  a  short  while  he  did 
make  the  discovery ;  immediately  threw  up  her 
contract,  which  at  any  rate  was  only  for  six  weeks ; 
paid  off  her   arrears;  and,  in   spite  of  all   entreaties. 


138  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

left    her    behind,    in    the    miserable    inn    of    a    httle 
village. 

"  De\il  take  all  wanton  jilts ! "  cried  the  old  man, 
with  a  splenetic  tone,  "and  especially  this  one,  that 
has  spoiled  me  so  many  hours  of  my  life !  Why 
should  I  keep  talking  how  I  myself  took  charge  of 
her,  what  I  did  for  her,  what  I  spent  on  her,  how  in 
absence  I  provided  for  her  ?  I  would  rather  throw 
my  purse  into  the  ditch,  and  spend  my  time  in  nursing 
mangy  whelps,  than  ever  more  bestow  the  smallest 
care  on  such  a  thing.  Pshaw !  At  first  I  got  letters 
of  thanks,  notice  of  places  she  was  staying  at ;  and, 
finally,  no  word  at  all,  —  not  even  an  acknowledgment 
for  the  money  I  had  sent  to  pay  the  expenses  of  her 
lying-in.  Oh !  the  treachery  and  the  fickleness  of 
women  are  rightly  matched,  to  get  a  comfortable  living 
for  themselves,  and  to  give  an  honest  fellow  many 
heavy  hours." 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

Wilhelm's  feelings,  on  returning  home  after  this 
conversation,  may  be  easily  conceived.  All  his  old 
wounds  had  been  torn  up  afresh,  and  the  sentiment 
that  Mariana  was  not  wholly  unworthy  of  his  love 
had  again  been  brought  to  Hfe.  The  interest  the  old 
man  had  shown  about  her  fate,  the  praises  he  gave  her 
against  his  will,  displayed  her  again  in  all  her  attract- 
iveness. Nay,  even  the  bitter  accusations  brought 
against  her  contained  nothing  that  could  lower  her  in 
Wilhelm's  estimation  ;  for  he,  as  well  as  she,  was  guilty 
in  all  her  aberrations.  Nor  did  even  her  final  silence 
seem  greatly  blamable:  it  rather  inspired  him  with 
mournful  thoughts.  He  saw  her  as  a  frail,  ill-succoured 
mother,  wandering  helplessly  about  the  world,  —  wan- 
dering, perhaps,  with  his  own  child.  What  he  knew, 
and  what  he  knew  not,  awoke  in  him  the  painfuUest 
emotions. 

Mignon  had  been  waiting  for  him :  she  lighted  him 
up-stairs.  On  setting  down  the  light,  she  begged  he 
would  allow  her,  that  evening,  to  compliment  him 
with  a  piece  of  her  art.  He  would  rather  have  de- 
clined this,  particularly  as  he  knew  not  what  it  was ; 
but  he  had  not  the  heart  to  refuse  anything  this  kind 
creature  wished.  After  a  little  while  she  again  came 
in.  She  carried  below  her  arm  a  little  carpet,  which 
she  then  spread  out  upon  the  floor.  Wilhelm  said  she 
might  proceed.  She  thereupon  brought  four  candles, 
and  placed  one  upon  each  corner  of  the  carpet.  A 
httle  basket  of  eggs,  which  she  next  carried  in,  made 
her  purpose  clearer.     Carefully   measuring  her  steps, 

139 


I40  MEISTER'S  APPRENTICESHIP 

she  then  walked  to  and  fro  on  the  carpet,  spreading 
out  the  eggs  in  certain  figures  and  positions ;  which 
done,  she  called  in  a  man  that  was  waiting  in  the 
house,  and  could  play  on  the  viohn.  He  retired  with 
his  instrument  into  a  corner ;  she  tied  a  band  about 
her  eyes,  gave  a  signal ;  and,  like  a  piece  of  wheel- 
work  set  a-going,  she  began  moving  the  same  instant 
as  the  music,  accompanying  her  beats  and  the  notes 
of  the  tune  with  the  strokes  of  a  pair  of  castanets. 

Lightly,  nimbly,  quickly,  and  with  hair's-breadth 
accuracy,  she  carried  on  the  dance.  She  skipped  so 
sharply  and  surely  along  between  the  eggs,  and  trod 
so  closely  down  beside  them,  that  you  would  have 
thought  every  instant  she  must  trample  one  of  them 
in  pieces,  or  kick  the  rest  away  in  her  rapid  turns.  By 
no  means !  She  touched  no  one  of  them,  though  wind- 
ing herself  through  their  mazes  with  all  kinds  of  steps, 
wide  and  narrow,  nay,  even  with  leaps,  and  at  last  half 
kneeling. 

Constant  as  the  movement  of  a  clock,  she  ran  her 
course ;  and  the  strange  music,  at  each  repetition  of 
the  tune,  gave  a  new  impulse  to  the  dance,  recommenc- 
ing and  again  rushing  off  as  at  first.  Wilhelm  was 
quite  led  away  by  this  singular  spectacle ;  he  forgot 
his  cares ;  he  followed  every  movement  of  the  dear 
little  creature,  and  felt  surprised  to  see  how  finely  her 
character  unfolded  itself  as  she  proceeded  in  the 
dance. 

Eigid,  sharp,  cold,  vehement,  and  in  soft  postures, 
stately  rather  than  attractive,  —  such  was  the  light  in 
which  it  showed  her.  At  this  moment  he  experienced 
at  once  all  the  emotions  he  had  ever  felt  for  Mignon. 
He  longed  to  incorporate  this  forsaken  being  with  his 
own  heart,  to  take  her  in  his  arms,  and  with  a  father's 
love  to  awaken  in  her  the  joy  of  existence. 

The  dance  being  ended,  she  rolled  the  eggs  together 
softly  with  her  foot  into  a  little  heap,  left  none  behind, 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  141 

harmed  none ;  then  placed  herself  beside  it,  taking  the 
bandage  from  her  eyes,  and  concluding  her  performance 
with  a  httle  bow. 

Wilhelm  thanked  her  for  having  executed,  so  prettily 
and  unexpectedly,  a  dance  he  had  long  wished  to  see. 
He  patted  her ;  was  sorry  she  had  tired  herself  so 
much.  He  promised  her  a  new  suit  of  clothes ;  to 
which  she  vehemently  repHed,  "  Thy  colour  ! "  This, 
too,  he  promised  her,  though  not  well  knowing  what 
she  meant  by  it.  She  then  Hfted  up  the  eggs,  took 
the  carpet  under  her  arm,  asked  if  he  wanted  anything 
further,  and  skipped  out  of  the  room. 

The  musician,  being  questioned,  said,  that  for  some 
time  she  had  taken  much  trouble  in  often  singing  over 
the  tune  of  this  dance,  the  well-known  fandango,  to 
him,  and  training  him  till  he  could  play  it  accurately. 
For  his  labour  she  had  likewise  offered  him  some 
money;  which,  however,  he  would  not  accept. 


CHAPTEE    IX. 

After  a  restless  night,  which  our  friend  spent, 
sometimes  waking,  sometimes  oppressed  with  un- 
pleasant dreams,  seeing  Mariana  now  in  all  her  beauty, 
now  in  woful  case,  at  one  time  with  a  child  on  her 
arm,  then  soon  bereaved  of  it,  the  morning  had  scarcely 
dawned,  when  Mignon  entered  with  a  tailor.  She 
brought  some  gray  cloth  and  blue  taffeta ;  signifying 
in  her  own  way  that  she  wished  to  have  a  new  jacket 
and  sailor's  trousers,  such  as  she  had  seen  the  boys  of 
the  town  wear,  with  blue  cuffs  and  tiers. 

Since  the  loss  of  Mariana,  Wilhelm  had  laid  aside 
all  gay  colours.  He  had  used  himself  to  gray,  —  the 
garment  of  the  shades ;  and  only  perhaps  a  sky-blue 
lining,  or  little  collar  of  that  dye,  in  some  degree  en- 
livened his  sober  garb.  Mignon,  eager  to  wear  his 
colours,  hurried  on  the  tailor,  who  engaged  to  have 
his  work  soon  ready. 

The  exercise  in  dancing  and  fencing,  which  our 
friend  took  this  day  with  Laertes,  did  not  prosper  in 
their  hands.  Indeed,  it  was  soon  interrupted  by 
Melina,  who  came  to  show  them  circumstantially  how 
a  little  company  was  now  of  itself  collected,  sufficient 
to  exhibit  plays  in  abundance.  He  renewed  the 
proposal  that  Wilhelm  should  advance  a  little  money 
for  setting  them  in  motion ;  which,  however,  Wilhelm 
still  declined. 

Ere  long  Philina  and  the  girls  came  in,  racketing 
and  laughing  as  usual.  They  had  now  devised  a  fresh 
excursion,  for  change  of  place  and  objects  was  a  pleas- 
ure after  which  they  always  longed.     To  eat  daily  in 

142 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  143 

a  different  spot  was  their  highest  wish.  On  this 
occasion  they  proposed  a  sail. 

The  boat  in  which  they  were  to  fall  down  the  pleas- 
ant windings  of  the  river  had  already  been  engaged 
by  the  Pedant.  Phihna  urged  them  on ;  the  party  did 
not  linger,  and  was  soon  on  board. 

"  What  shall  we  take  to  now  ? "  said  Philina,  when 
all  had  placed  themselves  upon  the  benches. 

"  The  readiest  thing,"  replied  Laertes,  "  were  for  us 
to  extemporise  a  play.  Let  each  take  a  part  that 
suits  his  character,  and  we  shall  see  how  we  get 
along." 

"  Excellent !  "  said  Wilhelm.  "  In  a  society  where 
there  is  no  dissimulation,  but  where  each  without 
disguise  pursues  the  bent  of  his  own  humour,  elegance 
and  satisfaction  cannot  long  continue ;  and,  where  dis- 
simulation always  reigns,  they  do  not  enter  at  all.  It 
will  not  be  amiss,  then,  that  we  take  up  dissimulation 
to  begin  with,  and  then,  behind  our  masks,  be  as  candid 
as  we  please." 

"  Yes,"  said  Laertes :  "  it  is  on  this  account  that  one 
goes  on  so  pleasantly  with  women ;  they  never  show 
themselves  in  their  natural  form." 

"  That  is  to  say,"  replied  Madam  Melina,  "  they  are 
not  so  vain  as  men,  who  conceive  themselves  to  be 
always  amiable  enough,  just  as  nature  has  produced 
them." 

In  the  meantime  the  river  led  them  between  pleas- 
ant groves  and  hills,  between  gardens  and  vineyards ; 
and  the  young  women,  especially  Madam  Melina,  ex- 
pressed their  rapture  at  the  landscape.  The  latter  even 
began  to  recite,  in  solemn  style,  a  pretty  poem  of  the 
descriptive  sort,  upon  a  similar  scene  of  nature  ;  but 
Philina  interrupted  her  with  the  proposal  of  a  law, 
that  no  one  should  presume  to  speak  of  any  inanimate 
object.  On  the  other  hand,  she  zealously  urged  on 
their  project  of   an  extempore  play.     Old  Boisterous 


144  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

was  to  be  a  half-pay  officer ;  Laertes  a  fencing-master, 
taking  his  vacation ;  the  Pedant,  a  Jew ;  she  herself 
would  act  a  Tyrolese ;  leaving  to  the  rest  to  choose 
characters  according  to  their  several  pleasures.  They 
would  suppose  themselves  to  be  a  party  of  total 
strangers  to  each  other,  who  had  just  met  on  board  a 
merchant-ship. 

She  immediately  began  to  play  her  part  with  the 
Jew,  and  a  universal  cheerfulness  diffused  itself  among 
them. 

They  had  not  sailed  far,  when  the  skipper  stopped 
in  his  course,  asking  permission  of  the  company  to  take 
in  a  person  standing  on  the  shore,  who  had  made  a 
sign  to  him. 

"That  is  just  what  we  needed,"  cried  Philina:  "a 
chance  passenger  was  wanting  to  complete  the  travel- 
ling-party." 

A  handsome  man  came  on  board ;  whom,  by  his 
dress  and  his  dignified  mien,  you  might  have  taken  for 
a  clergyman.  He  saluted  the  party,  who  thanked  him 
in  their  own  way,  and  soon  made  known  to  him  the 
nature  of  their  game.  The  stranger  immediately  en- 
gaged to  act  the  part  of  a  country  parson;  which,  in 
fact,  he  accomplished  in  the  adroitest  manner,  to  the 
admiration  of  all,  —  now  admonishing,  now  telling 
stories,  showing  some  weak  points,  yet  never  losing 
their  respect. 

In  the  meantime,  every  one  who  had  made  a  false 
step  in  his  part,  or  swerved  from  his  character,  had 
been  obliged  to  forfeit  a  pledge :  Philina  had  gathered 
them  with  the  greatest  care,  and  especially  threatened 
the  reverend  gentleman  with  many  kisses ;  though  he 
himself  had  never  been  at  fault.  Melina,  on  the  other 
hand,  was  completely  fleeced :  shirt-buttons,  buckles, 
every  movable  about  his  person,  was  in  Philina's  hands. 
He  was  trying  to  enact  an  English  traveller,  and  could 
not  by  any  means  get  into  the  spirit  of  his  part. 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  145 

Meanwhile  the  time  had  passed  away  very  pleas- 
antly. Each  had  strained  his  fancy  and  his  wit  to  the 
utmost,  and  each  had  garnished  his  part  with  agreeable 
and  entertaining  jests.  Thus  comfortably  occupied, 
they  reached  the  place  where  they  meant  to  pass  the 
day ;  and  Wilhelm,  going  out  to  walk  with  the  clergy- 
man, as  both  from  his  appearance  and  late  character 
he  persisted  in  naming  him,  soon  fell  into  an  interest- 
ing conversation. 

"  I  think  this  practice,"  said  the  stranger,  "  very  use- 
ful among  actors,  and  even  in  the  company  of  friends 
and  acquaintances.  It  is  the  best  mode  of  drawing 
men  out  of  themselves,  and  leading  them,  by  a  circuit- 
ous path,  back  into  themselves  again.  It  should  be  a 
custom  with  every  troop  of  players  to  practise  in  this 
manner:  and  the  public  would  assuredly  be  no  loser 
if  every  month  an  unwritten  piece  were  brought  for- 
ward ;  in  which,  of  course,  the  players  had  prepared 
themselves  by  several  rehearsals." 

"  One  should  not,  then,"  rephed  our  friend,  "  consider 
an  extempore  piece  as,  strictly  speaking,  composed  on 
the  spur  of  the  moment,  but  as  a  piece,  of  which  the 
plan,  action,  and  division  of  the  scenes  were  given  ;  the 
filling  up  of  all  this  being  left  to  the  player." 

"  Quite  right,"  said  the  stranger ;  "  and,  in  regard  to 
this  very  filling  up,  such  a  piece,  were  the  players  once 
trained  to  these  performances,  w^ould  profit  greatly. 
Not  in  regard  to  the  mere  words,  it  is  true ;  for,  by  a 
careful  selection  of  these,  the  studious  writer  may  cer- 
tainly adorn  his  work ;  but  in  regard  to  the  gestures, 
looks,  exclamations,  and  everything  of  that  nature :  in 
short,  to  the  mute  and  half-mute  play  of  the  dialogue, 
which  seems  by  degrees  fading  away  among  us  alto- 
gether. There  are  indeed  some  players  in  Germany 
whose  bodies  figure  what  they  think  and  feel ;  who  by 
their  silence,  their  delays,  their  looks,  their  slight, 
graceful  movements,  can  prepare  the  audience  for  a 


146  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

speech,  and  by  a  pleasant  sort  of  pantomime,  combine 
the  pauses  of  the  dialogue  with  the  general  whole ;  but 
such  a  practice  as  this,  cooperating  with  a  happy 
natural  turn,  and  training  it  to  compete  with  the  author, 
is  far  from  being  so  habitual  as,  for  the  comfort  of 
playgoing  people,  were  to  be  desired." 

"  But  will  not  a  happy  natural  turn,"  said  Wilhelm, 
"  as  the  first  and  last  requisite,  of  itself  conduct  the 
player,  like  every  other  artist,  —  nay,  perhaps  every 
other  man,  —  to  the  lofty  mark  he  aims  at  ?  " 

"  The  first  and  the  last,  the  beginning  and  the  end, 
it  may  well  be ;  but,  in  the  middle,  many  things  will 
still  be  wanting  to  an  artist,  if  instruction,  and  early  in- 
struction too,  have  not  previously  made  that  of  him 
which  he  was  meant  to  be :  and  perhaps  for  the  man 
of  genius  it  is  worse  in  this  respect  than  for  the  man 
possessed  of  only  common  capabilities ;  the  one  may 
much  more  easily  be  misinstructed,  and  be  driven  far 
more  violently  into  false  courses,  than  the  other." 

"  But,"  said  Wilhelm,  "  will  not  genius  save  itself, 
not  heal  the  wounds  which  itself  has  inflicted?" 

"  Only  to  a  very  small  extent,  and  with  great  diffi- 
culty," said  the  other,  "  or  perhaps  not  at  all.  Let  no 
one  think  that  he  can  conquer  the  first  impressions  of 
his  youth.  If  he  has  grown  up  in  enviable  freedom, 
surrounded  with  beautiful  and  noble  objects,  in  con- 
stant intercourse  with  worthy  men ;  if  his  masters 
have  taught  him  what  he  needed  first  to  know,  for 
comprehending  more  easily  what  followed ;  if  he  has 
never  learned  anything  which  he  requires  to  unlearn ; 
if  his  first  operations  have  been  so  guided,  that,  with- 
out altering  any  of  his  habits,  he  can  more  easily  pro- 
duce what  is  excellent  in  future,  —  then  such  a  one 
will  lead  a  purer,  more  perfect  and  happier,  life,  than 
another  man  who  has  wasted  the  force  of  his  youth  in 
opposition  and  error.  A  great  deal  is  said  and  written 
about  education ;  yet  I  meet  with  very  few  who  can 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  147 

comprehend,  and  transfer  to  practice,  this  simple  yet 
vast  idea,  which  includes  within  itself  all  others  con- 
nected with  the  subject." 

"  That  may  well  be  true,"  said  Wilhelm ;  "  for  the 
generahty  of  men  are  limited  enough  in  their  concep- 
tions to  suppose  that  every  other  should  be  fashioned 
by  education,  according  to  the  pattern  of  themselves. 
Happy,  then,  are  those  whom  Fate  takes  charge  of,  and 
educates  according  to  their  several  natures  ! " 

"  Fate,"  said  the  other,  smiling,  "  is  an  excellent  but 
most  expensive  schoolmaster.  In  all  cases,  I  would 
rather  trust  to  the  reason  of  a  human  tutor.  Fate,  for 
whose  wisdom  I  entertain  all  imaginable  reverence, 
often  finds  in  Chance,  by  which  it  works,  an  instru- 
ment not  overmanageable.  At  least  the  latter  very 
seldom  seems  to  execute  precisely  and  accurately  what 
the  former  had  determined." 

"  You  seem  to  express  a  very  singular  opinion,"  said 
Wilhelm. 

"  Not  at  all,"  replied  the  other.  "  Most  of  what  hap- 
pens in  the  world  confirms  my  opinion.  Do  not  many 
incidents  at  their  commencement  show  some  mighty 
purport,  and  generally  terminate  in  something  paltry  ?  " 

"  You  mean  to  jest." 

"  And  as  to  what  concerns  the  individual  man,"  pur- 
sued the  other,  "  is  it  not  so  with  this  likewise  ?  Sup- 
pose Fate  had  appointed  one  to  be  a  good  player ;  and 
why  should  it  not  provide  us  with  good  players  as  well 
as  other  good  things  ?  Chance  would  perhaps  conduct 
the  youth  into  some  puppet-show,  where,  at  such  an 
early  age,  he  could  not  help  taking  interest  in  what 
was  tasteless  and  despicable,  reckoning  insipidities  en- 
durable or  even  pleasing,  and  thus  corrupting  and  mis- 
directing his  primary  impressions,  —  impressions  which 
can  never  be  effaced,  and  whose  influence,  in  spite  of 
all  our  efforts,  clings  to  us  in  some  degree  to  the  very 
last." 


148  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

"  "What  makes  you  think  of  puppet-shows  ? "  said 
Wilhelm,  not  without  some  consternation. 

"  It  was  an  accidental  instance :  if  it  does  not  please 
you,  we  shall  take  another.  Suppose  Fate  had  ap- 
pointed any  one  to  be  a  great  painter,  and  it  pleased 
Chance  that  he  should  pass  his  youth  in  sooty  huts,  in 
barns  and  stables :  do  you  think  that  such  a  man 
would  ever  be  enabled  to  exalt  himself  to  purity,  to 
nobleness,  to  freedom  of  soul  ?  The  more  keenly  he 
may  in  his  youth  have  seized  on  the  impure,  and  tried 
in  his  own  manner  to  ennoble  it,  the  more  powerfully 
in  the  remainder  of  his  life  will  it  be  revenged  on  him ; 
because,  while  he  was  endeavouring  to  conquer  it,  his 
w^hole  being  has  become  inseparably  combined  with  it. 
Whoever  spends  his  early  years  in  mean  and  pitiful 
society,  though  at  an  after  period  he  may  have  the 
choice  of  better,  will  yet  constantly  look  back  with 
longing  toward  that  which  he  enjoyed  of  old,  and 
which  has  left  its  impression  blended  with  the  mem- 
ory of  all  his  young  and  unreturning  pleasures." 

From  conversation  of  this  sort,  it  is  easy  to  imagine, 
the  rest  of  the  company  had  gradually  withdrawn. 
Philina,  in  particular,  had  stepped  aside  at  the  very 
outset.  Wilhelm  and  his  comrade  now  rejoined  them 
by  a  cross-path.  Phihna  brought  out  her  forfeits,  and 
they  had  to  be  redeemed  in  many  different  ways. 
During  which  business,  the  stranger,  by  the  most  in- 
genious devices,  and  by  his  frank  participation  in  their 
sports,  recommended  himself  much  to  all  the  party, 
and  particularly  to  the  ladies ;  and  thus,  amid  joking, 
singing,  kissing,  and  railleries  of  all  sorts,  the  hours 
passed  away  in  the  most  pleasant  manner. 


CHAPTEE   X. 

When  our  friends  began  to  think  of  going  home, 
they  looked  about  them  for  their  clergyman ;  but  he 
had  vanished,  and  was  nowhere  to  be  found. 

"  It  is  not  polite  in  the  man,  who  otherwise  dis- 
played good  breeding,"  said  Madam  Melina,  "  to  desert 
a  company  that  welcomed  him  so  kindly,  without 
taking   leave." 

"  I  have  all  the  time  been  thinking,"  said  Laertes, 
"  where  I  can  have  seen  this  singular  man  before.  I 
fully  intended  to  ask  him  about  it  at  parting." 

"  I,  too,  had  the  same  feeling,"  said  Wilhelm ;  "  and 
certainly  I  should  not  have  let  him  go,  till  he  had  told 
us  something  more  about  his  circumstances.  I  am 
much  mistaken  if  I  have  not  ere  now  spoken  with 
him    somewhere." 

"  And  you  may  in  truth,"  said  Philina,  "  be  mistaken 
there.  This  person  seems  to  have  the  air  of  an  ac- 
quaintance, because  he  looks  like  a  man,  and  not  hke 
Jack  or  Kit." 

" What  is  this ? "  said  Laertes.  "Do  not  we,  too, 
look  Hke  men  ? " 

"  I  know  what  I  am  saying,"  cried  Philina ;  "  and,  if 
you  cannot  understand  me,  never  mind.  In  the  end 
my  words  will  be  found  to  require  no  commentary." 

Two  coaches  now  drove  up.  All  praised  the  atten- 
tion of  Laertes,  who  had  ordered  them.  Philina,  with 
Madam  Melina,  took  her  place  opposite  to  Wilhelm : 
the  rest  bestowed  themselves  as  they  best  could. 
Laertes  rode  back  on  Wilhelm's  horse,  which  had 
likewise  been  brought  out. 

149 


150  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

Philina  was  scarcely  seated  in  the  coach,  when  she 
began  to  sing  some  pretty  songs,  and  gradually  led  the 
conversation  to  some  stories,  which  she  said  might  be 
successfully  treated  in  the  form  of  dramas.  By  this 
cunning  turn,  she  very  soon  put  her  young  friend  into 
his  finest  humour :  from  the  wealth  of  his  living  im- 
aginative store,  he  forthwith  constructed  a  complete 
play,  with  all  its  acts,  scenes,  characters,  and  plots. 
It  was  thought  proper  to  insert  a  few  catches  and 
songs ;  they  composed  them ;  and  Philina,  wdio  entered 
into  every  part  of  it,  immediately  fitted  them  with 
well-known  tunes,  and  sang  them  on  the  spot. 

It  was  one  of  her  beautiful,  most  beautiful,  days : 
she  had  skill  to  enliven  our  friend  with  all  manner  of 
diverting  wiles ;  he  felt  in  spirits  such  as  he  had  not 
for  many  a  month  enjoyed. 

Since  that  shocking  discovery  had  torn  him  from 
the  side  of  Mariana,  he  had  continued  true  to  his 
vow  to  be  on  his  guard  against  the  encircling  arms  of 
woman ;  to  avoid  the  faithless  sex ;  to  lock  up  his  in- 
clinations, his  sweet  wishes,  in  his  own  bosom.  The 
conscientiousness  with  which  he  had  observed  this 
vow  gave  his  whole  nature  a  secret  nourishment ;  and, 
as  his  heart  could  not  remain  without  affection,  some 
loving  sympathy  had  now  become  a  want  with  him. 
He  went  along  once  more,  as  if  environed  by  the  first 
cloudy  glories  of  youth ;  his  eye  fixed  joyfully  on  every 
charming  object,  and  never  had  his  judgment  of  a 
lovely  form  been  more  favourable.  How  dangerous, 
in  such  a  situation,  this  wild  girl  must  have  been  to 
him,  is  but  too  easy  to  conceive. 

Arrived  at  home,  they  found  Wilhelm's  chamber  all 
ready  to  receive  them ;  the  chairs  set  right  for  a  pubHc 
reading;  in  midst  of  them  the  table,  on  which  the 
punch-bowl  was  in  due  time  to  take  its  place. 

The  German  chivalry-plays  were  new  at  this  period, 
and  had  just  excited  the  attention  and  the  inclination 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  151 

of  the  public.  Old  Boisterous  had  brought  one  of  this 
sort  with  him:  the  reading  of  it  had  already  been 
determined  on.  They  all  sat  down:  Wilhelm  took 
possession  of   the  pamphlet,   and  began  to  read. 

The  harnessed  knights,  the  ancient  keeps,  the  true- 
heartedness,  honesty,  and  downrightness,  but  especially 
the  independence  of  the  acting  characters,  were  re- 
ceived with  the  greatest  approbation.  The  reader  did 
his  utmost,  and  the  audience  gradually  mounted  into 
rapture.  Between  the  third  and  fourth  acts,  the 
punch  arrived  in  an  ample  bowl;  and,  there  being 
much  fighting  and  drinking  in  the  piece  itself,  noth- 
ing was  more  natural  than  that,  on  every  such  occur- 
rence, the  company  should  transport  themselves  into 
the  situation  of  the  heroes,  should  flourish  and  strike 
along  with  them,  and  drink  long  life  to  their  favour- 
ites among  the  dramatis  jpersonm. 

Each  individual  of  the  party  was  inflamed  with  the 
noblest  fire  of  national  spirit.  How  it  gratified  this 
German  company  to  be  poetically  entertained,  accord- 
ing to  their  own  character,  on  stuff  of  their  own 
manufacture!  In  particular,  the  vaults  and  caverns, 
the  ruined  castles,  the  moss  and  hollow  trees,  but 
above  all  the  nocturnal  gypsy  scenes,  and  the  Secret 
Tribunal,  produced  a  quite  incredible  effect.  Every 
actor  now  figured  to  himself  how,  erelong,  in  helm 
and  harness,  he ;  every  actress  how,  with  a  monstrous 
spreading  ruff,  she,  —  would  present  their  Germanship 
before  the  public.  Each  would  appropriate  to  himself 
without  delay  some  name  taken  from  the  piece  or  from 
German  history ;  and  Madam  Melina  declared  that  the 
son  or  daughter  she  was  then  expecting  should  not  be 
christened  otherwise  than  by  the  name  of  Adelbert  or 
of  Mathilde. 

Toward  the  fifth  act,  the  approbation  became  more 
impetuous  and  louder;  and  at  last,  when  the  hero 
actually  trampled  down  his  oppressor,  and  the  tyrant 


152  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

met  his  doom,  the  ecstasy  increased  to  such  a  height, 
that  all  averred  they  had  never  passed  such  happy 
moments.  Mehna,  whom  the  Hquor  had  inspired, 
'was  the  noisiest:  and  when  the  second  bowl  was 
emptied,  and  midnight  near,  Laertes  swore  through 
thick  and  thin,  that  no  living  mortal  was  worthy  ever 
more  to  put  these  glasses  to  his  hps ;  and,  so  swearing, 
he  pitched  his  own  right  over  his  head,  through  a 
window-pane,  out  into  the  street.  The  rest  followed 
his  example  ;  and  notwithstanding  the  protestations  of 
the  landlord,  who  came  running  in  at  the  noise,  the 
punch-bowl  itself,  never  after  this  festivity  to  be 
polluted  by  unholy  drink,  was  dashed  into  a  thousand 
shreds.  Phihna,  whose  exhilaration  was  the  least 
noticed,  —  the  other  two  girls  by  that  time  having 
laid  themselves  upon  the  sofa  in  no  very  elegant  posi- 
tions, —  maliciously  encouraged  her  companions  in 
their  tumult.  Madam  Melina  recited  some  spirit- 
stirring  poems ;  and  her  husband,  not  too  amiable  in 
the  uproar,  began  to  cavil  at  the  insufficient  prepara- 
tion of  the  punch,  declaring  that  he  could  arrange  an 
entertainment  altogether  in  a  different  style,  and  at 
last  becoming  sulkier  and  louder  as  Laertes  com- 
manded silence,  till  the  latter,  without  much  con- 
sideration, threw  the  fragments  of  the  punch-bowl 
about  his  head,  and  thereby  not  a  little  deepened  the 
confusion. 

Meanwhile  the  town  guard  had  arrived,  and  were 
demanding  admission  to  the  house.  Wilhelm,  much 
heated  by  his  reading,  though  he  had  drunk  but  httle, 
had  enough  to  do,  vdth  the  landlord's  help,  to  content 
these  people  by  money  and  good  words,  and  afterward 
to  get  the  various  members  of  his  party  sent  home  in 
that  unseemly  case.  On  coming  back,  overpowered 
with  sleep  and  full  of  chagrin,  he  threw  himself  upon 
his  bed  without  undressing ;  and  nothing  could  exceed 
his  disgust,  when,  opening  his  eyes  next  morning,  he 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  153 

looked  out  with  dull  sight  upon  the  devastations  of 
the  bygone  day,  and  saw  the  uncleanness,  and  the 
many  bad  effects,  of  which  that  ingenious,  lively,  and 
well-intentioned  poetical  performance  had  been  the 
cause. 


CHAPTEE   XI. 

After  a  short  consideration,  he  called  the  landlord, 
and  bade  him  mark  to  his  account  both  the  damage 
and  the  regular  charge.  At  the  same  time  he  learned, 
not  without  vexation,  that  his  horse  had  been  so  hard 
ridden  by  Laertes  last  night,  that,  in  all  probability, 
it  was  foundered,  as  they  term  it ;  the  farrier  having 
little  hope  of  its  recovering. 

A  salute  from  Philina,  which  she  threw  him  from 
her  window,  restored  him  in  some  degree  to  a  more 
cheerful  humour :  he  went  forth^vith  into  the  nearest 
shop  to  buy  her  a  little  present,  which,  in  return  for 
the  powder-knife,  he  still  owed  her ;  and  it  must  be 
owned,  that,  in  selecting  his  gift,  he  did  not  keep  him- 
self within  the  Hmits  of  proportional  value.  He  not 
only  purchased  her  a  pair  of  earrings,  but  added  like- 
wise a  hat  and  neckerchief,  and  some  other  little 
articles,  which  he  had  seen  her  lavishly  throw  from 
her  on  the  first  day  of   their  acquaintance. 

Madam  Mehna,  happening  to  observe  him  as  he  was 
delivering  his  presents,  took  an  opportunity  before 
breakfast  to  rate  him  very  earnestly  about  his  inchna- 
tion  for  this  girl ;  at  which  he  felt  the  more  astonished, 
the  less  he  thought  it  merited.  He  swore  solemnly, 
that  he  had  never  once  entertained  the  shghtest  notion 
of  attaching  himself  to  such  a  person,  whose  whole 
manner  of  proceeding  was  well  known  to  him.  He 
excused  himself  as  well  as  possible  for  his  friendly 
and  polite  conduct  toward  her,  yet  did  not  by  any 
means  content  Madam  Melina,  whose  spite  grew  ever 

154 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  155 

more  determined,  as  she  could  not  but  observe  that 
the  flatteries,  by  which  she  had  acquired  for  herseh 
a  sort  of  partial  regard  from  our  friend,  were  not  suffi- 
cient to  defend  this  conquest  from  the  attacks  of  a 
lively,  younger,  and   more  gifted  rival. 

As  they  sat  down  to  table,  her  husband  joined  them, 
likewise  in  a  very  fretful  humour ;  which  he  was  be- 
ginning to  display  on  many  little  things,  when  the 
landlord  entered  to  announce  a  player  on  the  harp. 
"  You  will  certainly,"  he  said,  "  find  pleasure  in  the 
music  and  the  songs  of  this  man :  no  one  who  hears 
him  can  forbear  to  admire  him,  and  bestow  something 
on  him." 

"  Let  him  go  about  his  business,"  said  Melina :  "  I 
am  anything  but  in  a  trim  for  hearing  fiddlers,  and  we 
have  singers  constantly  among  ourselves  disposed  to 
gain  a  little  by  their  talent."  He  accompanied  these 
w^ords  with  a  sarcastic  side-look  at  Philina :  she  under- 
stood his  meaning,  and  immediately  prepared  to  punish 
him,  by  taking  up  the  cause  of  the  harper.  Turning 
toward  Wilhelm,  "  Shall  we  not  hear  the  man  ? "  said 
she :  "  shall  we  do  nothing  to  save  ourselves  from  this 
miserable  ennui  ?  " 

Melina  was  going  to  reply,  and  the  strife  would 
have  gi'own  keener,  had  not  the  person  it  related  to 
at  that  moment  entered.  Wilhelm  saluted  him,  and 
beckoned  him  to  come  near. 

The  figure  of  this  singular  guest  set  the  whole  party 
in  astonishment :  he  had  found  a  chair  before  any  one 
took  heart  to  ask  him  a  question,  or  make  any  observa- 
tion. His  bald  crown  was  encircled  by  a  few  gray 
hairs,  and  a  pair  of  large  blue  eyes  looked  out  softly 
from  beneath  his  long  white  eyebrows.  To  a  nose  of 
beautiful  proportions  was  sul) joined  a  flowing,  hoary 
beard,  which  did  not  hide  the  fine  shape  and  position 
of  his  lips ;  and  a  long  dark-brown  garment  wrapped 
his  thin  body  from  the  neck  to  the  feet.     He  began 


156  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

to  prelude  on  the  harp,  which  he  had  placed  before 

him. 

The  sweet  tones  which  he  drew  from  his  instrument 
very  soon  inspirited  the  company. 

"  You  can  sing,  too,  my  good  old  man,"  said  Phihna. 

"  Give  us  something  that  shall  entertain  the  spirit 
and  the  heart  as  well  as  the  senses,"  said  Wilhelm. 
"  The  instrument  should  but  accompany  the  voice  ;  for 
tunes  and  melodies  without  words  and  meaning  seem 
to  me  like  butterflies  or  finely  variegated  birds,  which 
hover  round  us  in  the  air,  which  we  could  wish  to 
catch  and  make  our  own:  whereas  song  is  hke  a 
blessed  genius  that  exalts  us  toward  heaven,  and  allures 
the  better  self  in  us  to  attend  him." 

The  old  man  looked  at  Wilhelm,  then  aloft,  then 
gave  some  trills  upon  his  harp,  and  began  his  song. 
It  contained  a  eulogy  on  minstrelsy,  —  described  the 
happiness  of  minstrels,  and  reminded  men  to  honour 
them.  He  produced  his  song  wdth  so  much  life  and 
truth,  that  it  seemed  as  if  he  had  composed  it  at  the 
moment,  for  this  special  occasion.  Wilhelm  could 
scarcely  refrain  from  clasping  him  in  his  arms;  but 
the  fear  of  awakening  a  peal  of  laughter  detained  him 
in  his  chair ;  for  the  rest  were  already  in  half- whispers 
making  sundry  very  shallow  observations,  and  debating 
if  the  harper  was  a  Papist  or  a  Jew. 

When  asked  about  the  author  of  the  song,  the  man 
gave  no  distinct  reply ;  declaring  only  that  he  was  rich 
in  songs,  and  anxious  that  they  should  please.  Most 
of  the  party  were  now  merry  and  joyful ;  even  Melina 
was  grown  frank  in  his  way ;  and,  whilst  they  talked 
and  joked  together,  the  old  man  began  to  sing  the 
praise  of  social  life  in  the  most  sprightly  style.  He 
described  the  lovehness  of  unity  and  courtesy,  in  soft, 
soothing  tones.  Suddenly  his  music  became  cold,  harsh, 
and  jarring,  as  he  turned  to  deplore  repulsive  selfish- 
ness, short-sighted  enmity,  and  baleful  division;  and 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  157 

every  heart  willingly  threw  off  those  galling  fetters, 
while,  borne  on  the  wings  of  a  piercing  melody,  he 
launched  forth  in  praise  of  peacemakers,  and  sang  the 
happiness  of  souls,  that,  having  parted,  meet  again  in 
love. 

Scarcely  had  he  ended,  when  Wilhelm  cried  to  him, 
"  Whoever  thou  art,  that  as  a  helping  spirit  comest  to 
us  with  a  voice  which  blesses  and  revives,  accept  my 
reverence  and  my  thanks !  Feel  that  we  all  admire 
thee,  and  confide  in  us  if  thou  wantest  anything." 

The  old  man  spoke  not :  he  threw  his  fingers  softly 
across   the    strings,    then    struck    more    sharply,    and 


sang: 


" '  What  notes  are  those  without  the  wall, 
Across  the  portal  sounding  ? 
Let's  have  the  music  in  our  hall, 

Back  from  its  roof  rebounding.' 
So  spoke  the  king,  the  henchman  flies  : 
His  answer  heard,  the  monarch  cries, 
'  Bring  in  that  ancient  minstrel.' 


'& 


' '  Hail,  gracious  king  !  each  noble  knight, 
Each  lovely  dame,  I  greet  you  ! 
"What  glittering  stars  salute  my  sight ! 
What  heart  unmoved  may  meet  you ! 
Such  lordly  pomp  is  not  for  me, 
Far  other  scenes  my  eyes  must  see  : 
Yet  deign  to  list  my  harping.' 

"  The  singer  turns  him  to  his  art, 
A  thrilling  strain  he  raises  ; 
Each  warrior  hears  with  glowing  heart, 

And  on  his  loved  one  gazes. 
The  king,  who  liked  his  playing  well, 
Commands,  for  such  a  kindly  spell, 
A  golden  chain  be  given  him. 

"  *  The  golden  chain  give  not  to  me  ; 
Thy  boldest  knight  may  wear  it, 
Who,  'cross  the  battle's  purple  sea, 
On  lion  breast  may  bear  it : 


158  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

Or  let  it  be  thy  chancellor's  prize, 
Amid  his  heaps  to  feast  his  eyes ; 
Its  yellow  glance  will  please  him. 

" '  I  sing  but  as  the  linnet  sings, 

That  on  the  green  bough  dwelleth ; 
A  rich  reward  his  music  brings, 

As  from  his  throat  it  swelleth  : 
Yet  might  I  ask,  I'd  ask  of  thine 
One  sparkling  draught  of  purest  wine, 
To  drink  it  here  before  you.' 

"  He  viewed  the  wine  ;  he  quaffed  it  up. 
'  O  di-aught  of  sweetest  savour ! 
O  happy  house,  where  such  a  cup 

Is  thought  a  little  favour ! 
If  well  you  fare,  remember  me, 
And  thank  kind  Heaven,  from  envy  free, 
As  now  for  this  I  thank  you.'  " 

When  the  harper,  on  finishing  his  song,  took  up  a 
glass  of  wine  that  stood  poured  out  for  him,  and,  turn- 
ing with  a  friendly  mien  to  his  entertainers,  drank  it 
off,  a  buzz  of  joyful  approbation  rose  from  all  the  party. 
They  clapped  hands,  and  wished  him  health  from  that 
glass,  and  strength  to  his  aged  limbs.  He  sang  a  few 
other  ballads,  exciting  more  and  more  hilarity  among 
the  company. 

"  Old  man,"  said  PhiHna,  "  dost  thou  know  the  tune, 
'  The  shepherd  decked  him  for  the  dance  ? '"  ^ 

"  Oh,  yes  ! "  said  he :  "  if  you  will  sing  the  words,  I 
shall  not  fail  for  my  part  of  it." 

Phihna  then  stood  up,  and  held  herself  in  readiness. 
The  old  man  commenced  the  tune;  and  she  sang  a 
song,  which  we  cannot  impart  to  our  readers,  lest  they 
might  think  it  insipid,  or  perhaps  undignified. 

Meanwhile  the  company  were  growing  merrier  and 
merrier:  they  had  already  emptied  several  flasks  of 
wine,  and  were  now  beginning  to  get  very  loud.     But 

1  "Der  Schafer  putzte  sich  zum  Tanz,"— a  song  of  Goethe's. — Ed. 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  159 

our  friend,  having  fresh  in  his  remembrance  the  bad 
consequences  of  their  late  exhilaration,  determined  to 
break  up  the  sitting;  he  slipped  into  the  old  man's 
hand  a  liberal  remuneration  for  his  trouble,  the  rest 
did  something  likewise ;  they  gave  him  leave  to  go  and 
take  repose,  promising  themselves  another  entertain- 
ment from  his  skill  in  the  evening. 

When  he  had  retired,  our  friend  said  to  Phihna, 
"  In  this  favourite  song  of  yours  I  certainly  find  no 
merit,  either  moral  or  poetical;  yet  if  you  were  to 
bring  forward  any  proper  composition  on  the  stage, 
with  the  same  arch  simplicity,  the  same  propriety  and 
gracefulness,  I  should  engage  that  strong  and  universal 
approbation  would  be  the  result." 

"  Yes,"  said  Philina  :  "  it  would  be  a  charming  thing 
indeed  to  warm  one's  self  at  ice." 

"  After  all,"  said  Wilhelm,  "  this  old  man  might  put 
many  a  player  to  the  blush.  Did  you  notice  how 
correctly  the  dramatic  part  of  his  ballads  was  ex- 
pressed ?  I  maintain  there  was  more  Hving  true  rep- 
resentation in  his  singing  than  in  many  of  our  starched 
characters  upon  the  stage.  You  would  take  the  acting 
of  many  plays  for  a  narrative,  and  you  might  ascribe 
to  these  musical  narratives  a  sensible  presence." 

"  You  are  hardly  just,"  rephed  Laertes.  "  I  pretend 
to  no  great  skill,  either  as  a  player  or  as  a  singer ;  yet 
I  know  well  enough,  that  when  music  guides  the 
movements  of  the  body,  at  once  affording  to  them 
animation  and  a  scale  to  measure  it ;  when  declamation 
and  expression  are  furnished  me  by  the  composer, — 
I  feel  a  quite  different  man  from  what  I  do  when,  in 
prose  dramas,  I  have  all  this  to  create  for  myself, — 
have  both  gesture  and  declamation  to  invent,  and  am, 
perhaps,  disturbed  in  it,  too,  by  the  awkwardness  of 
some  partner  in  the  dialogue." 

"Thus  much  I  know,"  said  Melina:  "the  man  cer- 
tainly puts  us  to  the  blush  in  one  point,  and  that  a 


i6o  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

main  point.  The  strength  of  his  talent  is  shown  by 
the  profit  he  derives  from  it.  Even  us,  who  perhaps 
erelong  shall  be  embarrassed  where  to  get  a  meal,  he 
persuades  to  share  our  pittance  with  him.  He  has 
skill  enough  to  wile  the  money  from  our  pockets  with 
an  old  song,  —  the  money  that  we  should  have  used 
to  find  ourselves  employment.  So  pleasant  an  affair 
is  it  to  squander  the  means  which  might  procure  sub- 
sistence to  one's  self  and  others." 

This  remark  gave  the  conversation  not  the  most 
delightful  turn.  Wilhelm,  for  whom  the  reproach 
was  peculiarly  intended,  rephed  with  some  heat; 
and  Mehna,  at  no  time  overstudious  of  delicacy  and 
politeness,  explained  his  grievances  at  last  in  words 
more  plain  than  courteous.  "It  is  now  a  fortnight," 
said  he,  "  since  we  looked  at  the  theatrical  machinery 
and  wardrobe  which  is  lying  pawned  here :  the  whole 
might  be  redeemed  for  a  very  tolerable  sum.  You 
then  gave  me  hopes  that  you  would  lend  me  so  much ; 
and  hitherto  I  do  not  see  that  you  have  thought  more 
of  the  matter,  or  come  any  nearer  a  determination. 
Had  you  then  consented,  we  should  ere  now  have  been 
under  way.  Nor  has  your  intention  to  leave  the  place 
been  executed,  nor  has  your  money  in  the  meantime 
been  spared ;  at  least  there  are  people  who  have  always 
skill  to  create  opportunities  for  scattering  it  faster  and 
faster  away." 

Such  upbraidings,  not  altogether  undeserved,  touched 
Wilhelm  to  the  quick.  He  replied  with  keenness,  nay, 
with  anger ;  and,  as  the  company  rose  to  part,  he  took 
hold  of  the  door,  and  gave  them  not  obscurely  to  under- 
stand that  he  would  no  longer  continue  with  such  un- 
friendly and  ungrateful  people.  He  hastened  down,  in 
no  kindly  humour,  and  seated  himself  upon  the  stone 
bench  without  the  door  of  his  inn  ;  not  observing,  that, 
first  out  of  mirth,  tlieu  out  of  spleen,  he  had  drunk 
more  wine  than  usual. 


CHAPTEE   XII. 

Aftee  a  short  time,  which  he  passed  sitting  looking 
out  before  him,  disquieted  by  many  thoughts,  Phihua 
came  singing  and  skipping  along  through  the  front 
door.  She  sat  down  by  him,  nay,  we  might  almost 
say,  on  him,  so  close  did  she  press  herself  toward  him : 
she  leaned  upon  his  shoulders,  began  playing  wdtli  his 
hair,  patted  him,  and  gave  him  the  best  words  in  the 
world.  She  begged  of  him  to  stay  with  them,  and  not 
leave  her  alone  in  that  company,  or  she  must  die  of 
tedium:  she  could  not  live  any  longer  in  the  same 
house  with  Mehna,  and  had  come  over  to  lodge  in  the 
other  inn  for  that  reason. 

He  tried  in  vain  to  satisfy  her  with  denials,  —  to 
make  her  understand  that  he  neither  could  nor  would 
remain  any  longer.  She  did  not  cease  with  her  en- 
treaties ;  nay,  suddenly  she  threw  her  arm  round  his 
neck,  and  kissed  him  with  the  livehest  expression  of 
fondness. 

"  Are  you  mad,  PhiUna  ? "  cried  Willielm,  endeavour- 
ing to  disengage  himself ;  "  to  make  the  open  street  the 
scene  of  such  caresses,  which  I  nowise  merit !  Let  me 
go !  I  cannot  and  I  -svill  not  stay." 

"  And  I  will  hold  thee  fast,"  said  she,  "  and  kiss  thee 
here  on  the  open  street,  and  kiss  thee  till  thou  promise 
what  I  want.  I  shall  die  of  laughing,"  she  continued : 
"by  this  familiarity  the  good  people  here  must  take 
me  for  thy  wife  of  four  weeks'  standing;  and  hus- 
bands, who  witness  this  touching  scene,  will  commend 

i6i 


1 62  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

me  to  their  wives  as  a  pattern  of  childlike,  simple 
tenderness." 

Some  persons  were  just  then  going  by :  she  caressed 
him  in  the  most  graceful  way ;  and  he,  to  avoid  giving 
scandal,  was  constrained  to  play  the  part  of  the  patient 
husband.  Then  she  made  faces  at  the  people,  when 
their  backs  were  turned,  and,  in  the  wildest  humour, 
continued  to  commit  all  sorts  of  improprieties,  till  at 
last  he  was  obliged  to  promise  that  he  would  not  go 
that  day,  or  the  morrow,  or  the  next  day. 

"  You  are  a  true  clod  ! "  said  she,  quitting  him ;  "  and 
I  am  but  a  fool  to  spend  so  much  kindness  on  you." 
She  arose  with  some  vexation,  and  walked  a  few  steps, 
then  turned  round  laughing,  and  cried,  "  I  beheve  it  is 
just  that,  after  all,  that  makes  me  so  crazy  about  thee. 
I  will  but  go  and  seek  my  knitting-needles  and  my 
stocking,  that  I  may  have  something  to  do.  Stay 
there,  and  let  me  find  the  stone  man  still  upon  the 
stone  bench  when  I  come  back." 

She  cast  a  sparkhng  glance  on  him,  and  went  into 
the  house.  He  had  no  call  to  follow  her ;  on  the  con- 
trary, her  conduct  had  excited  fresh  aversion  in  him ; 
yet  he  rose  from  the  bench  to  go  after  her,  not  well 
knowing  why. 

He  was  just  entering  the  door,  when  Melina  passed 
by,  and  spoke  to  him  in  a  respectful  tone,  asking  his 
pardon  for  the  somewhat  too  harsh  expressions  he  had 
used  in  their  late  discussion.  "  You  will  not  take  it  ill 
of  me,"  continued  he,  "  if  I  appear  perhaps  too  fretful 
in  my  present  circumstances.  The  charge  of  providing 
for  a  wife,  perhaps  soon  for  a  child,  forbids  me  from 
day  to  day  to  live  at  peace,  or  spend  my  time  as  you 
may  do,  in  the  enjoyment  of  pleasant  feelings.  Con- 
sider, I  pray  you,  and,  if  possible,  do  put  me  in  posses- 
sion of  that  stage  machinery  that  is  lying  here.  I  shall 
not  be  your  debtor  long,  and  I  shall  be  obhged  to  you 
while  I  live." 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  163 

Our  friend,  unwilling  to  be  kept  upon  the  threshold, 
over  which  an  irresistible  impulse  was  drawing  him  at 
that  moment  to  Philina,  answered,  with  an  absent  mind, 
eager  to  be  gone,  and  surprised  into  a  transient  feeling 
of  good-will,  "  If  I  can  make  you  happy  and  contented 
by  doing  this,  I  will  hesitate  no  longer.  Go  you  and 
put  everything  to  rights.  I  shall  be  prepared  this  even- 
ing, or  to-morrow  morning,  to  pay  the  money."  He 
then  gave  his  hand  to  Melina  in  confirmation  of  his 
promise,  and  was  very  glad  to  see  him  hastily  proceed 
along  the  street ;  but,  alas  !  his  entrance,  which  he  now 
thought  sure,  was  a  second  time  prohibited,  and  more 
disagreeably  than  at  first. 

A  young  man,  with  a  bundle  on  his  back,  came 
walking  fast  along  the  street,  and  advanced  to  Wil- 
helm,  who  at  once  recognised  him  for  Friedrich. 

"  Here  am  I  again ! "  cried  he,  looking  with  his  large 
blue  eyes  joyfully  up  and  down,  over  all  the  windows 
of  the  house.  "  Where  is  Mamsell  ?  Devil  take  me, 
if  I  can  stroll  about  the  world  any  longer  without 
seeing  her ! " 

The  landlord,  joining  them  at  this  instant,  replied 
that  she  was  above ;  Friedrich,  with  a  few  bounds,  was 
up-stairs  ;  and  Wilhelm  continued  standing,  as  if  rooted 
to  the  threshold.  At  the  first  instant  he  was  tempted 
to  pluck  the  younker  back,  and  drag  him  down  by  the 
hair;  then  all  at  once  the  spasm  of  a  sharp  jealousy 
stopped  the  current  of  his  spirits  and  ideas ;  and,  as  he 
gradually  recovered  from  this  stupefaction,  there  came 
over  him  a  splenetic  fit  of  restlessness,  a  general  dis- 
comfort, such  as  he  had  never  felt  in  his  life  before. 

He  went  up  to  his  room,  and  found  Mignon  busy 
writing.  For  some  time  the  creature  had  been  labour- 
ing with  great  diligence  in  writing  everything  she  knew 
by  heart,  giving  always  to  her  master  and  friend  the 
papers  to  correct.  She  was  indefatigable,  and  of  good 
comprehension;    but   still,  her  letters  w^ere  irregular, 


i64  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

and  her  lines  crooked.  Here,  too,  the  body  seemed  to 
contradict  the  mind.  In  his  usual  moods,  Wilhelm 
took  no  small  pleasure  in  the  child's  attention ;  but, 
at  the  present  moment,  he  regarded  little  what  she 
showed  him,  —  a  piece  of  neglect  which  she  felt  the 
more  acutely,  as  on  this  occasion  she  conceived  her 
work  had  been  accomplished  with  peculiar  success. 

Wilhelm's  unrest  drove  him  up  and  down  the  pas- 
sages of  the  house,  and  finally  again  to  the  street  door. 
A  rider  was  just  prancing  toward  it,  —  a  man  of  good 
appearance,  of  middle  age,  and  a  brisk,  contented  look. 
The  landlord  ran  to  meet  him,  holding  out  his  hand  as 
to  an  old  acquaintance.  "  Ay,  Herr  Stallmeister,"  cried 
he,  "  have  we  the  pleasure  to  see  you  again  ? " 

"  I  am  only  just  going  to  bait  with  you,"  replied  the 
stranger,  "  and  then  along  to  the  estate,  to  get  matters 
put  in  order  as  soon  as  possible.  The  count  is  coming 
over  to-morrow  with  his  lady ;  they  mean  to  stay  awhile 

to  entertain  the  Prince  von in  their  best  style : 

he  intends  to  fix  his  headquarters  in  this  neighbourhood 
for  some  time." 

"It  is  pity,"  said  the  landlord,  "that  you  cannot 
stop  with  us:  we  have  good  company  in  the  house." 
The  hostler  came  running  out,  and  took  the  horse  from 
the  Stallmeister,  who  continued  talking  in  the  door 
with  the  landlord,  and  now  and  then  giving  a  look  at 
Wilhelm. 

Our  friend,  observing  that  he  formed  the  topic  of 
their  conversation,  went  away,  and  walked  up  and 
down  the  streets. 


CHAPTEE   XIII. 

In  the  restless  vexation  of  his  present  humour,  it 
came  into  his  head  to  go  and  see  the  old  harper ; 
hoping  by  his  music  to  scare  away  the  evil  spirits 
that  tormented  him.  On  asking  for  the  man,  he  was 
directed  to  a  mean  pubhc-house,  in  a  remote  corner  of 
the  little  town ;  and,  having  mounted  up-stairs  there 
to  the  very  garret,  his  ear  caught  the  fine  twanging  of 
the  harp  coming  from  a  little  room  before  him.  They 
were  heart-moving,  mournful  tones,  accompanied  by  a 
sad  and  dreary  singing.  Wilhelm  ghded  to  the  door ; 
and  as  the  good  old  man  was  performing  a  sort  of  vol- 
untary, the  few  stanzas  of  which,  sometimes  chanted, 
sometimes  in  recitative,  were  repeated  more  than  once, 
our  friend  succeeded,  after  hstening  for  aw^hile,  in 
gathering  nearly  this: 

"  Who  never  ate  his  bread  with  tears, 

Through  nights  of  grief  who,  weeping,  never 
Sat  on  his  bed,  midst  pangs  and  fears, 
Can,  heavenly  powers,  not  know  you  ever. 

"  Ye  lead  us  forth  into  this  life, 

Where  comfort  soon  by  guilt  is  banished, 
Abandon  us  to  tortures,  strife  ; 

For  on  this  earth  all  guilt  is  punished." 

—  Editor's  Version. 

The  heart-sick,  plaintive  sound  of  this  lament  pierced 
deep  into  the  soul  of  the  hearer.     It  seemed  to  him  as 

165 


i66  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

if  the  old  man  were  often  stopped  from  proceeding  by 
Lis  tears :  his  harp  would  alone  be  heard  for  a  time, 
till  his  voice  again  joined  it  in  low,  broken  tones. 
Wilhelm  stood  by  the  door ;  he  was  much  moved ;  the 
mourning  of  this  stranger  had  again  opened  the  avenues 
of  his  heart ;  he  could  not  resist  the  claim  of  sympa- 
thy, or  restrain  the  tears  which  this  woebegone  com- 
plaint at  last  called  forth.  All  the  pains  that  pressed 
upon  his  soul  seemed  now  at  once  to  loosen  from  their 
hold :  he  abandoned  himseK  without  reserve  to  the 
feehngs  of  the  moment.  Pushing  up  the  door,  he  stood 
before  the  harper.  The  old  man  was  sitting  on  a  mean 
bed,  the  only  seat,  or  article  of  furniture,  which  his 
miserable  room  afforded. 

"  What  feelings  thou  hast  awakened  in  me,  good  old 
man  !  "  exclaimed  he.  "  All  that  was  lying  frozen  at 
my  heart  thou  hast  melted,  and  put  in  motion.  Let 
me  not  disturb  thee,  but  continue,  in  solacing  thy  own 
sorrows,  to  confer  happiness  upon  a  friend."  The 
harper  was  about  to  rise,  and  say  something;  but 
Wilhelm  hindered  him,  for  he  had  noticed  in  the 
morning  that  the  old  man  did  not  like  to  speak.  He 
sat  down  by  him  on  the  straw  bed. 

The  old  man  wiped  his  eyes,  and  asked,  with  a 
friendly  smile,  "  How  came  you  hither  ?  I  meant  to 
wait  upon  you  in  the  evening  again." 

"  We  are  more  quiet  here,"  said  Wilhelm.  "  Sing 
to  me  what  thou  pleasest,  what  accords  with  thy  own 
mood  of  mind,  only  proceed  as  if  I  were  not  by.  It 
seems  to  me,  that  to-day  thou  canst  not  fail  to  suit 
me.  I  think  thee  very  happy,  that,  in  solitude,  thou 
canst  employ  and  entertain  thyself  so  pleasantly ;  that, 
being  everywhere  a  stranger,  thou  findest  in  thy  own 
heart  the  most  agreeable  society." 

The  old  man  looked  upon  his  strings;  and  after 
touching  them  softly,  by  way  of  prelude,  he  commenced 
and  sang : 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  167 

"  Who  longs  in  solitude  to  live, 

Ah  !  soon  his  wish  will  gain : 
Men  hope  and  love,  men  get  and  give, 

And  leave  him  to  his  pain. 
Yes,  leave  me  to  my  moan  I 

When  from  my  bed 

You  all  are  fled, 
I  still  am  not  alone. 

"  The  lover  glides  with  footstep  light : 

His  love,  is  she  not  waiting  there  ? 
So  glides  to  meet  me,  day  and  night, 

In  solitude  my  care. 

In  solitude  my  woe  : 
True  solitude  I  then  shall  know  > 

When  lying  in  my  grave, 

When  lying  in  my  grave. 
And  grief  has  let  me  go." 

We  might  describe  with  great  prolixity,  and  yet  fail 
to  express  the  charms  of,  the  singular  conversation 
which  Wilhelm  carried  on  with  this  wayfaring  stranger. 
To  every  observation  our  friend  addressed  to  him,  the 
old  man,  with  the  nicest  accordance,  answered  in  some 
melody,  which  awakened  all  the  cognate  emotions,  and 
opened  a  wide  field  to  the  imagination. 

Whoever  has  happened  to  be  present  at  a  meeting 
of  certain  devout  people,  who  conceive,  that,  in  a  state 
of  separation  from  the  Church,  they  can  edify  each 
other  in  a  purer,  more  affecting,  and  more  spiritual 
manner,  may  form  to  himself  some  conception  of  the 
present  scene.  He  will  recollect  how  the  leader  of 
the  meeting  would  append  to  his  words  some  verse 
of  a  song,  that  raised  the  soul  till,  as  he  wished,  she 
took  wing;  how  another  of  the  flock  would  erelong 
subjoin,  in  a  different  tune,  some  verse  of  a  different 
song ;  and  to  this  again  a  third  would  link  some  verse 
of  a  third  song,  —  by  which  means  the  kindred  ideas 
of  the  songs  to  which  the  verses  belonged  were  indeed 
suggested,  yet  each  passage  by  its  new  combination 


i68  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

became  new  and  individualised,  as  if  it  had  been  first 
composed  that  moment ;  and  thus  from  a  well-known 
circle  of  ideas,  from  well-known  songs  and  sayings, 
there '  was  formed  for  that  particular  society,  in  that 
particular  time,  an  original  whole,  by  means  of  which 
their  minds  were  animated,  strengthened,  and  refreshed. 
So,  likewise,  did  the  old  man  edify  his  guest :  by  known 
and  unknown  songs  and  passages,  he  brought  feehngs 
near  and  distant,  emotions  sleeping  and  awake,  pleas- 
ant and  painful,  into  a  circulation,  from  which,  in 
Wilhelm's  actual  state,  the  best  effects  might  be 
anticipated. 


CHAPTEE    XIV. 

AccOKDiNGLY,  in  walking  back,  he  began  to  think 
with  gi-eater  earnestness  than  ever  on  his  present 
situation :  he  had  reached  home  with  the  firm  purpose 
of  altering  it,  when  the  landlord  disclosed  to  him,  by 
way  of  secret,  that  Mademoiselle  Phihna  had  made 
a  conquest  of  the  count's  Stallmeister,  who,  after  exe- 
cuting his  commission  at  his  master's  estate,  had 
returned  in  the  greatest  haste,  and  was  even  now 
partaking  of  a  good  supper  with  her  up  in  her 
chamber. 

At  this  very  moment  Melina  came  in  with  a  notary : 
they  went  into  Wilhelm's  chamber  together,  where  the 
latter,  though  with  some  hesitation,  made  his  promise 
good  ;  gave  a  draft  of  three  hundred  crowns  to  Melina, 
who,  handing  it  to  the  lawyer,  received  in  return  a 
note  acknowledging  the  sale  of  the  whole  theatrical 
apparatus,  and  engaging  to  deliver  it  next  morning. 

Scarcely  had  they  parted,  when  Wilhelm  heard  a 
cry  of  horror  rising  from  some  quarter  of  the  house. 
He  caught  the  sound  of  a  young  voice,  uttering  menac- 
ing and  furious  tones,  which  were  ever  and  anon 
choked  by  immoderate  weeping  and  howling.  He 
observed  this  frantic  noise  move  hastily  from  above, 
go  past  his  door,  and  down  to  the  lower  part  of  the 
house. 

Curiosity  enticing  our  friend  to  follow  it,  he  found 
Friedrich  in  a  species  of  delirium.  The  boy  was 
weeping,  grinding  his  teeth,  stamping  with  his  feet, 
threatening  with  clenched  fists:  he  appeared  beside 
himself  from  fury  and  vexation.     Mignon  was  standing 

169 


J  JO  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

opposite  him,  looking  on  with  astonishment.  The 
landlord,  in  some  degree,  explained  this  phenomenon. 

The  boy,  he  said,  being  well  received  at  his  return 
by  PhiHna,  seemed  quite  merry  and  contented :  he 
had  kept  singing  and  jumping  about,  till  the  time 
when  Philina  grew  acquainted  with  the  Stallmeister. 
Then,  however,  this  half-grown  younker  had  begun  to 
show  his  indignation,  to  slam  the  doors,  and  run  up 
and  down  in  the  highest  dudgeon.  Philina  had  ordered 
him  to  wait  at  table  that  evening,  upon  which  he  had 
gi-own  still  sulkier  and  more  indignant ;  till  at  last, 
carrying  up  a  plate  with  a  ragout,  instead  of  setting  it 
upon  the  table,  he  had  thrown  the  whole  between 
mademoiselle  and  her  guest,  who  were  sitting  moder- 
ately close  together  at  the  time:  and  the  Stallmeister, 
after  two  or  three  hearty  cuffs,  had  then  kicked  him 
out  of  the  room.  He,  the  landlord,  had  himself  helped 
to  clean  both  of  them ;  and  certainly  their  clothes  had 
suffered  much. 

On  hearing  of  the  good  effect  of  his  revenge,  the 
boy  began  to  laugh  aloud,  whilst  the  tears  were  still 
running  down  his  cheeks.  He  heartily  rejoiced  for  a 
time,  till  the  disgrace  which  he  had  suffered  from  the 
stronger  party  once  more  came  into  his  head,  and  he 
began  afresh  to  howl  and  threaten. 

Wilhelm  stood  meditating,  and  ashamed  at  this 
spectacle.  It  reflected  back  to  him  his  own  feelings, 
in  coarser  and  exaggerated  features :  he,  too,  was  in- 
flamed with  a  fierce  jealousy ;  and,  had  not  decency 
restrained  him,  he  would  %villingly  have  satisfied  his 
wild  humour;  with  mahcious  spleen  would  have 
abused  the  object  of  his  passion,  and  called  out  his 
rival ;  he  could  have  crushed  in  pieces  all  the  people 
round  him ;  they  seemed  as  if  standing  there  but  to 
vex  him. 

Laertes  also  had  come  in,  and  heard  the  story :  he 
roguishly  spurred  on  the  irritated  boy,  who  was  now 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  171 

asserting  with  oaths  that  he  would  make  the  Stall- 
meister  give  him  satisfaction ;  that  he  had  never  yet 
let  any  injury  abide  with  him ;  that,  should  the  man 
refuse,  there  were  other  ways  of  taking  vengeance. 

This  was  the  very  business  for  Laertes.  He  went 
up-stairs,  with  a  solemn  countenance,  to  call  out  the 
Stallmeister  in  the  boy's  name. 

"  This  is  a  pleasant  thing,"  said  the  Stallmeister  : 
"  such  a  joke  as  this  I  had  scarcely  promised  myself 
to-night."  They  went  down,  and  Philina  followed 
them.  "  My  son,"  said  the  Stallmeister  to  Friedrich, 
"  thou  art  a  brave  lad,  and  I  do  not  hesitate  to  fight 
thee.  Only  as  our  years  and  strength  are  unequal,  and 
the  attempt  a  little  dangerous  on  that  account,  I  pro- 
pose a  pair  of  foils  in  preference  to  other  weapons. 
We  can  rub  the  buttons  of  them  with  a  piece  of  chalk, 
and  whoever  marks  upon  the  other's  coat  the  first  or 
the  most  thrusts,  shall  be  held  the  victor,  and  be 
treated  by  the  other  with  the  best  wine  that  can 
be  had  in  town." 

Laertes  decided  that  the  proposition  might  be  lis- 
tened to :  Friedrich  obeyed  him,  as  his  tutor.  The 
foils  were  produced :  Philina  took  a  seat,  went  on  with 
her  knitting,  and  looked  at  the  contending  parties 
with  the  greatest  peace  of  mind. 

The  Stallmeister,  who  could  fence  very  prettily,  was 
complaisant  enough  to  spare  his  adversary,  and  to  let 
a  few  chalk  scores  be  marked  upon  his  coat ;  after 
which  the  two  embraced,  and  wine  was  ordered.  The 
Stallmeister  took  the  hberty  of  asking  Friedrich's 
parentage  and  history ;  and  Friedrich  told  him  a  long 
story,  which  had  often  been  repeated  already,  and 
which,  at  some  other  opportunity,  we  purpose  com- 
municating to  our  readers. 

To  Wilhelm,  in  the  meantime,  this  contest  completed 
the  representation  of  his  own  state  of  mind.  He  could 
not  but  perceive  that  he  would  willingly  have  taken 


172  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

up  a  foil  against  the  Stallw.eister, —  a  sword  still  more 
willingly,  though  evidently  much  his  inferior  in  the 
science  of  defence.  Yet  he  deigned  not  to  cast  one 
look  on  Philina;  he  was  on  his  guard  against  any 
word  or  movement  that  could  possibly  betray  his 
feelings :  and,  after  having  once  or  twice  done  justice 
to  the  health  of  the  duellists,  he  hastened  to  his  own 
room,  where  a  thousand  painful  thoughts  came  pressing 
round  him. 

He  called  to  memory  the  time  when  his  spirit,  rich 
in  hope,  and  full  of  boundless  aims,  was  raised  aloft, 
and  encircled  with  the  liveliest  enjoyments  of  every 
kind  as  with  its  proper  element.  He  now  clearly  saw, 
that  of  late  he  had  fallen  into  a  broken,  w^anderins 
path,  where,  if  he  tasted,  it  was  but  in  drops  what  he 
once  quaffed  in  unrestricted  measure.  But  he  could 
not  clearly  see  what  insatiable  want  it  was  that  nature 
had  made  the  law  of  his  being,  and  how  this  want  had 
been  only  set  on  edge,  half  satisfied,  and  misdirected 
by  the  circumstances  of  his  life. 

It  will  not  surprise  us,  therefore,  that,  in  considering 
his  situation,  and  labouring  to  extricate  himself,  he 
fell  into  the  greatest  perplexity.  It  was  not  enough, 
that  by  his  friendship  for  Laertes,  his  attachment  to 
Philina,  his  concern  for  Mignon,  he  had  been  detained 
longer  than  was  proper  in  a  place  and  a  society  where 
he  could  cherish  his  darling  inclination,  content  his 
■wishes  as  it  were  by  stealth,  and,  without  proposing 
any  object,  again  pursue  his  early  dreams.  These  ties 
he  believed  himself  possessed  of  force  enough  to  break 
asunder :  had  there  been  nothing  more  to  hold  him,  he 
could  have  gone  at  once.  But,  only  a  few  moments 
ago,  he  had  entered  into  money  transactions  w^ith 
Melina:  he  had  seen  that  mysterious  old  man,  the 
enigma  of  whose  history  he  longed  with  unspeakable 
desire  to  clear.  Yet  of  this  too,  after  much  balancing 
of  reasons,  he  at  length  determined,  or  thought  he  had 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  173 

determined,  that  it  should  not  keep  him  back.  "  I 
must  go."  He  threw  himself  into  a  chair:  he  felt 
greatly  moved.  Mignon  came  in,  and  asked  whether 
she  might  help  to  undress  him.  Her  manner  was 
still  and  shy :  it  had  grieved  her  to  the  quick  to  be  so 
abruptly  dismissed  by  him  before. 

Nothing  is  more  touching  than  the  first  disclosure 
of  a  love  which  has  been  nursed  in  silence,  of  a  faith 
grown  strong  in  secret,  and  which  at  last  comes  forth 
in  the  hour  of  need,  and  reveals  itself  to  him  who 
formerly  has  reckoned  it  of  small  account.  The  bud, 
which  had  been  closed  so  long  and  firmly,  was  now 
ripe  to  burst  its  swathings ;  and  Wilhelm's  heart  could 
never  have  been  readier  to  welcome  the  impressions 
of  affection. 

She  stood  before  him,  and  noticed  his  disquietude. 
"  Master  ! "  she  cried,  "  if  thou  art  unhappy,  what  will 
become  of  Mignon  ? "  "  Dear  little  creature,"  said  he, 
taking  her  hands,  "  thou,  too,  art  part  of  my  anxieties. 
I  must  go  hence."  She  looked  at  his  eyes,  glistening 
with  restrained  tears,  and  knelt  down  with  vehemence 
before  him.  He  kept  her  hands :  she  laid  her  head 
upon  his  knees,  and  remained  quite  still.  He  played 
with  her  hair,  patted  her,  and  spoke  kindly  to  her. 
She  continued  motionless  for  a  considerable  time.  At 
last  he  felt  a  sort  of  palpitating  movement  in  her, 
which  began  very  softly,  and  then  by  degrees,  with 
increasing  violence,  diffused  itself  over  all  her  frame. 
"What  ails  thee,  Mignon?"  cried  he:  "What  ails 
thee  ? "  She  raised  her  little  head,  looked  at  him,  and 
all  at  once  laid  her  hand  upon  her  heart,  with  the 
countenance  of  one  repressing  the  utterance  of  pain. 
He  raised  her  up,  and  she  fell  upon  his  breast:  he 
pressed  her  toward  him,  and  kissed  her.  She  replied 
not  by  any  pressure  of  the  hand,  by  any  motion  what- 
ever. She  held  firmly  against  her  heart,  and  all  at 
once  gave  a  cry,  which  was  accompanied  by  spasmodic 


174  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

movements  of  the  body.  She  started  up,  and  immedi- 
ately fell  down  before  him,  as  if  broken  in  every  joint. 
It  was  an  excruciating  moment.  "  My  child  !  "  cried 
he,  raising  her  up,  and  clasping  her  fast,  "  my  child, 
what  ails  thee  ?  "  The  palpitations  continued,  spread- 
ing from  the  heart  over  all  the  lax  and  powerless 
limbs :  she  was  merely  hanging  in  his  arms.  All  at 
once  she  again  became  quite  stiff,  Uke  one  enduring 
the  'sharpest  corporeal  agony ;  and  soon  with  a  new 
vehemence  all  her  frame  once  more  became  alive ;  and 
she  threw  herself  about  his  neck,  like  a  bent  spring 
that  is  closing ;  while  in  her  soul,  as  it  were,  a  strong 
rent  took  place,  and  at  the  same  moment  a  stream  of 
tears  flowed  from  her  shut  eyes  into  his  bosom.  He 
held  her  fast.  She  wept,  and  no  tongue  can  express 
the  force  of  these  tears.  Her  long  hair  had  loosened, 
and  was  hanging  down  before  her :  it  seemed  as  if  her 
whole  being  was  melting  incessantly  into  a  brook  of 
tears.  Her  rigid  Hmbs  were  again  become  relaxed ; 
her  inmost  soul  was  pouring  itself  forth ;  in  the  wild 
confusion  of  the  moment  Wilhelm  was  afraid  she  would 
dissolve  in  his  arms,  and  leave  nothing  there  for  him 
to  grasp.  He  held  her  faster  and  faster.  "  My  child  ! " 
cried  he,  "  my  child  !  thou  art  indeed  mine,  if  that  word 
can  comfort  thee.  Thou  art  mine !  I  will  keep  thee,  I 
will  never  forsake  thee  ! "  Her  tears  continued  flow- 
ing. At  last  she  raised  herself :  a  faint  gladness  shone 
upon  her  face.  "  My  father  ! "  cried  she,  "  thou  wilt 
not  forsake  me  ?  Wilt  be  my  father  ?  I  am  thy 
child!" 

Softly,  at  this  moment,  the  harp  began  to  sound 
before  the  door :  the  old  man  brought  his  most  affect- 
ing songs  as  an  evening  offering  to  our  friend,  who, 
holding  his  child  ever  faster  in  his  arms,  enjoyed  the 
most  pure  and  undescribable  felicity. 


Book  III. 


"  Dosi  Know  the  Land  Where  Citrons,  Lemons, 

Grow ' ' 

Photogravure  from  the  painting  by  Woldemar  Friedrich 


WfX^'Ait  :ijJ   ,.<?  *'^:i;/s-'^>.T A^ 


CHAPTEE   I. 

«  Dost  know  the  land  where  citrons,  lemons,  grow. 
Gold  oranges  'neath  dusky  foliage  glow, 
From  azure  sky  are  blowing  breezes  soft, 
The  myrtles  still,  the  laui-el  stands  aloft  ? 

'Tis  there  !  'tis  there  ! 
1  would  with  thee,  O  my  beloved  one,  go  ! 

"  Dost  know  the  house,  its  roofs  do  columns  bear, 
The  hall  with  splendour  bright,  the  chambers  glare  ? 
Therein  stand  marble  forms,  and  look  at  me  : 
What  is't,  poor  child,  that  they  have  done  to  thee  ? 
Dost  know  that  house? 

'Tis  there!  'tis  there  ! 
I  would  with  thee,  O  my  protector,  go  ! 

"  Dost  know  the  mount,  whose  path  with  clouds  is  fraught, 
Where  by  the  mule  through  mist  the  way  is  sought, 
Where  dwell  in  caves  the  dragon's  ancient  brood. 
Where  falls  the  rock,  and  over  it  the  flood,  — 
Dost  know  that  mount  ? 

'Tis  there!  'tis  there! 
Does  lead  our  road  :  O  father,  let  us  go  !  " 

—  Editor's  Version. 

Next  morning,  on  looking  for  Mignon  about  the 
house,  Wilhelm  did  not  find  her,  but  was  informed 
that  she  had  gone  out  early  with  Melina,  who  had 
risen  betimes  to  receive  the  wardrobe  and  other  appa- 
ratus of  his  theatre. 

After  the  space  of  some  hours,  Wilhelm  heard  the 
sound  of  music  before  his  door.  At  first  he  thought 
it  was  the  harper  come  again  to  visit  him ;  but  he  soon 
distinguished  the  tones  of  a  cithern,  and  the  voice 

177 


178  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

which  began  to  sing  was  Mignon's.  Wilhelm  opened 
the  door :  the  child  came  in,  and  sang  him  the  song  we 
have  just  given  above. 

The  music  and  general  expression  of  it  pleased  our 
friend  extremely,  though  he  could  not  understand  all 
the  words.  He  made  her  once  more  repeat  the  stanzas, 
and  explain  them  :  he  wTote  them  down,  and  translated 
them  into  his  native  language.  But  the  originality  of 
its  turns  he  could  imitate  only  from  afar :  its  childhke 
innocence  of  expression  vanished  from  it  in  the  process 
of  reducing  its  broken  phraseology  to  uniformity,  and 
combining  its  disjointed  parts.  The  charm  of  the  tune, 
moreover,  was  entirely  incomparable. 

She  began  every  verse  in  a  stately  and  solemn  man- 
ner, as  if  she  wished  to  draw  attention  toward  some- 
thing wonderful,  as  if  she  had  something  weighty  to 
communicate.  In  the  third  line,  her  tones  became 
deeper  and  gloomier ;  the  words,  "  Dost  knovj  ?  "  were 
uttered  with  a  show  of  mystery  and  eager  circumspect- 
ness ;  in  "  'Tis  there  !  'tis  there  !  "  lay  an  irresistible 
longing ;  and  her  "  Let  us  go  ! "  she  modified  at  each 
repetition,  so  that  now  it  appeared  to  entreat  and 
implore,  now  to  impel  and  persuade. 

On  finishing  her  song  for  the  second  time,  she  stood 
silent  for  a  moment,  looked  keenly  at  Wilhelm,  and 
asked  him,  "  Knowst  thou  the  land  ? "  "  It  must 
mean  Italy,"  said  Wilhelm  :  "  where  didst  thou  get  the 
little  song  ? "  "  Italy  ! "  said  Mignon,  with  an  earnest 
air.  "  If  thou  go  to  Italy,  take  me  along  with  thee ; 
for  I  am  too  cold  here."  "Hast  thou  been  there 
already,  httle  dear?"  said  Wilhelm.  But  the  child 
was  silent,  and  nothing  more  could  be  got  out  of  her. 

Melina  entered  now  :  he  looked  at  the  cithern,  — 
was  glad  that  she  had  rigged  it  up  again  so  prettily. 
The  instrument  had  been  among  Melina's  stage-gear: 
Mignon  had  begged  it  of  him  in  the  morning,  and  then 
gone  to  the   old  harper.     On  this  occasion  she  had 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  179 

shown  a  talent  she  was  not  before  suspected  of 
possessing. 

Melina  had  already  got  possession  of  his  wardrobe, 
with  all  that  pertained  to  it :  some  members  of  the 
town  magistracy  had  promised  him  permission  to  act, 
for  a  time,  in  the  place.  He  was  now  returning  with 
a  merry  heart  and  a  cheerful  look.  His  nature  seemed 
altogether  changed :  he  was  soft,  courteous  to  every 
one,  —  nay,  fond  of  obliging,  and  almost  attractive. 
He  was  happy,  he  said,  at  now  being  able  to  afford 
employment  to  his  friends,  who  had  hitherto  lain  idle 
and  embarrassed  ;  sorry,  however,  that  at  first  he  could 
not  have  it  in  his  power  to  remunerate  the  excellent 
actors  whom  fortune  had  offered  him,  in  a  style  corre- 
sponding to  their  talents  and  capacities ;  being  under 
the  necessity,  before  all  other  things,  of  discharging 
his  debt  to  so  generous  a  friend  as  Wilhelm  had  proved 
himself  to  be. 

"  I  cannot  describe,"  said  he  to  Wilhelm,  "  the  friend- 
liness which  you  have  shown,  in  helping  me  forward 
to  the  management  of  a  theatre.  When  I  found  you 
here,  I  was  in  a  very  curious  predicament.  You  recol- 
lect how  strongly  I  displayed  to  you,  on  our  first 
acquaintance,  my  aversion  to  the  stage ;  and  yet,  on 
being  married,  I  w^as  forced  to  look  about  for  a  place 
in  some  theatre,  out  of  love  to  my  wife,  who  promised 
to  herself  much  joy  and  gi-eat  applause  if  so  engaged. 
I  could  find  none,  at  least  no  constant  one ;  but  in 
return  I  luckily  fell  in  with  some  commercial  men, 
who,  in  extraordinary  cases,  were  enabled  to  employ  a 
person  that  could  handle  his  pen,  that  understood 
French,  and  was  not  without  a  little  skill  in  ciphering. 
I  managed  pretty  well  in  this  way  for  a  time ;  I  was 
tolerably  paid ;  got  about  me  many  things  which  I  had 
need  of,  and  did  not  feel  ashamed  of  my  work.  But 
these  commissions  of  my  patrons  came  to  an  end ;  they 
could  afford  me  no  permanent  estabhshment :  and,  ever 


i8o  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

since,  my  wife  has  continued  urging  me  still  more  to 
go  upon  the  stage  again ;  though,  at  present,  alas !  her 
own  situation  is  none  of  the  favourablest  for  exhibiting 
herself  with  honour  in  the  eyes  of  the  public.  But 
now,  I  hope,  the  establishment  which  by  your  kind 
help  I  have  the  means  of  setting  up,  will  prove  a  good 
beginning  for  me  and  mine :  you  I  shall  thank  for  all 
my  future  happiness,  let  matters  turn  out  as  they 
will." 

Wilhelm  listened  to  him  with  contentment :  the  whole 
fraternity  of  players  were  likewise  moderately  satisfied 
with  the  declarations  of  the  new  manager ;  they  secretly 
rejoiced  that  an  offer  of  employment  had  occurred 
so  soon,  and  were  disposed  to  put  up  at  first  with  a 
smaller  salary,  the  rather,  that  most  of  them  regarded 
the  present  one,  so  unexpectedly  placed  within  their 
reach,  as  a  kind  of  supplement,  on  which  a  short  while 
ago  they  could  not  count.  Melina  made  haste  to  profit 
by  this  favourable  temper :  he  endeavoured  in  a  sly 
way  to  get  a  little  talk  with  each  in  private,  and  ere- 
long had,  by  various  methods,  so  cockered  them  all, 
that  they  did  not  hesitate  to  strike  a  bargain  with  him 
without  loss  of  time ;  scarcely  thinking  of  this  new 
engagement,  or  reckoning  themselves  secure  at  worst 
of  getting  free  again  after  six  weeks'  warning. 

The  terms  were  now  to  be  reduced  to  proper  form ; 
and  Melina  was  considering  with  what  pieces  he  would 
first  entice  the  public,  when  a  courier  riding  up  in- 
formed the  Stallmeisier  that  his  lord  and  lady  were  at 
hand ;  on  which  the  latter  ordered  out  his  horses. 

In  a  short  time  after  this,  the  coach  with  its  masses 
of  luggage  rolled  in ;  two  servants  sprang  down  from 
the  coach-box  before  the  inn ;  and  Philina,  according 
to  her  custom,  foremost  in  the  way  of  novelties,  placed 
herself  within  the  door. 

"  Who  are  you  ? "  said  the  countess,  entering  the 
house. 


meister's  apprenticeship  i8i 

"  An  actress,  at  your  Excellency's  service,"  was  the 
answer ;  while  the  cheat,  with  a  most  innocent  air,  and 
looks  of  great  humility,  curtsied,  and  kissed  the  lady's 
gown. 

The  count,  on  seeing  some  other  persons  standing 
round,  who  also  signified  that  they  were  players,  in- 
quired about  the  strength  of  their  company,  their  last 
place  of  residence,  their  manager.  "Had  they  but 
been  Frenchmen,"  said  he  to  his  lady,  "  we  might  have 
treated  the  prince  with  an  unexpected  enjoyment,  and 
entertained  him  with  his  favourite  pastime  at  our 
house." 

"  And  could  we  not,"  said  the  countess,  "  get  these 
people,  though  unluckily  they  are  but  Germans,  to 
exhibit  with  us  at  the  castle  while  the  prince  stays 
there  ?  Without  doubt  they  have  some  degree  of  skill. 
A  large  party  can  never  be  so  well  amused  with  any- 
thing as  with  a  theatre :  besides,  the  baron  would  assist 
them." 

So  speaking,  they  went  up-stairs ;  and  Melina  pre- 
sented himself  above,  as  manager.  "  Call  your  folk 
together,"  said  the  count,  "  and  place  them  before  me, 
that  I  may  see  what  is  in  them.  I  must  also  have  the 
list  of  pieces  you  profess  to  act." 

Melina,  with  a  low  bow,  hastened  from  the  room, 
and  soon  returned  with  his  actors.  They  advanced  in 
promiscuous  succession :  some,  out  of  too  great  anxiety 
to  please,  introduced  themselves  in  a  rather  sorry  style  ; 
the  others,  not  much  better,  by  assuming  an  air  of 
unconcern.  Philina  showed  the  deepest  reverence  to 
the  countess,  who  behaved  with  extreme  graciousness 
and  condescension :  the  count,  in  the  meantime,  was 
mustering  the  rest.  He  questioned  each  about  his 
special  province  of  acting,  and  signified  to  Melina  that 
he  must  rigorously  keep  them  to  their  several  prov- 
inces, —  a  precept  which  the  manager  received  with 
the  greatest  devotion. 


i82  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

The  count  then  stated  to  each  in  particular  what  he 
ought  especially  to  study,  what  about  his  figure  or  his 
postures  ought  to  be  amended ;  showed  them  lumi- 
nously in  what  points  the  Germans  always  fail;  and 
displayed  such  extraordinary  knowledge,  that  all  stood 
in  the  deepest  humility,  scarcely  daring  to  draw  their 
breath  before  so  enlightened  a  critic  and  so  right  hon- 
ourable a  patron. 

"  Wliat  fellow  is  that  in  the  corner  ?  "  said  the  count, 
looking  at  a  subject  who  had  not  yet  been  presented  to 
him,  and  who  now  approached,  —  a  lean,  shambling 
figure,  with  a  rusty  coat,  patched  at  the  elbows,  and  a 
woful  periwig  covering  his  submissive  head. 

This  person,  whom,  from  the  last  book,  we  know 
already  as  Philina's  darling,  had  been  wont  to  enact 
pedants,  tutors,  and  poets,  —  generally  undertaking 
parts  in  which  any  cudgelling  or  ducking  was  to  be 
endured.  He  had  trained  himself  to  certain  crouchins, 
ludicrous,  timid  bows ;  and  his  faltering,  stammering 
speech  befitted  the  characters  he  played,  and  created 
laughter  in  the  audience ;  so  that  he  was  always  looked 
on  as  a  useful  member  of  the  company,  being  moreover 
very  serviceable  and  obliging.  He  approached  the  count 
in  his  own  peculiar  way,  bent  himself  before  him,  and 
answered  every  question  with  the  grimaces  and  ges- 
tures he  was  used  to  on  the  stage.  The  count  looked 
at  him  for  some  time  with  an  air  of  attentive  satisfac- 
tion and  studious  observation ;  then,  turning  to  the 
countess,  "  Child,"  said  he,  "  consider  this  man  well :  I 
will  engage  for  it  he  is  a  great  actor,  or  may  become 
so."  The  creature  here,  in  the  fulness  of  his  heart, 
made  an  idiotic  bow:  the  count  burst  into  laughing, 
and  exclaimed,  "  He  does  it  excellently  well !  I  bet 
this  fellow  can  act  anything  he  likes :  it  is  pity  that 
he  has  not  been  already  used  to  something  better." 

So  singular  a  prepossession  was  extremely  galhng  to 
the  rest :  Meliua  alone  felt  no  vexation,  but  completely 


meister's  apprenticeship  183 

coincided  with  the  count,  and  answered,  with  a  pros- 
trate look,  "  Alas !  it  is  too  true :  both  he  and  others 
of  us  have  long  stood  in  need  of  such  encouragement, 
and  such  a  judge,  as  we  now  find  in  your  Excellency." 

"  Is  this  the  whole  company  ?  "  inquired  the  count. 

"  Some  of  them  are  absent,"  said  the  crafty  Melina ; 
"  and  at  any  rate,  if  we  should  meet  with  support,  we 
could  soon  collect  abundant  numbers  from  the  neigh- 
bourhood." 

Philina  in  the  meanwhile  was  saying  to  the  countess, 
"  There  is  a  very  pretty  young  man  above,  who  without 
doubt  would  shortly  become  a  first-rate  amateur." 

"  Why  does  he  not  appear  ? "  said  the  countess. 

"  I  will  bring  him,"  cried  Philina,  hastening  to  the 
door. 

She  found  our  friend  still  occupied  with  Mignon: 
she  persuaded  him  to  come  down.  He  followed  her 
with  some  reluctance :  yet  curiosity  impelled  him ; 
for,  hearing  that  the  family  were  people  of  rank,  he 
longed  much  to  know  more  of  them.  On  entering  the 
room,  his  eyes  met  those  of  the  countess,  which  were 
directed  toward  him.  Philina  led  him  to  the  lady, 
while  the  count  was  busied  with  the  rest.  Wilhelm 
made  his  bow,  and  replied  to  several  questions  from 
the  fair  dame,  not  without  confusion  of  mind.  Her 
beauty  and  youth,  her  gi'aceful  dignity  and  refined 
manner,  made  the  most  delightful  impression  on  him ; 
and  the  more  so,  as  her  words  and  looks  were  accom- 
panied with  a  certain  bashfulness,  one  might  almost 
say  embarrassment.  He  was  likewise  introduced  to 
the  count,  who,  however,  took  no  special  notice  of  him, 
but  went  to  the  window  with  his  lady,  and  seemed  to 
ask  her  about  something.  It  was  easy  to  observe  that 
her  opinion  accorded  strongly  with  his  own ;  that  she 
even  tried  to  persuade  him,  and  strengthen  him  in  his 
intentions. 

In  a  short  while  he  turned  round  to  the  company, 


i84  MEISTER'S  APPRENTICESHIP 

and  said,  "  I  must  not  stay  at  present,  but  I  will  send 
a  friend  to  you  ;  and  if  you  make  reasonable  proposals, 
and  will  take  very  gi-eat  pains,  I  am  not  disinclined  to 
let  you  play  at  the  castle." 

AH  testified  their  joy  at  this :  Philina  in  particular 
kissed  the  hands  of  the  countess  with  the  greatest 
vivacity. 

"  Look  you,  little  thing,"  said  the  lady,  patting  the 
cheeks  of  the  light-minded  girl,  "look  you,  child,  you 
shall  come  to  me  again :  I  will  keep  my  promise ;  only 
you  must  dress  better."  Philina  stated  in  excuse  that 
she  had  little  to  lay  out  upon  her  wardrobe ;  and  the 
countess  immediately  ordered  her  waiting-maids  to 
bring  from  the  carriage  a  silk  neckerchief  and  an  Eng- 
lish hat,  the  articles  easiest  to  come  at,  and  give  them  to 
her  new  favourite.  The  countess  herself  then  decked 
Philina,  who  continued  very  neatly  to  support,  by  her 
looks  and  conduct,  that  saintlike,  guiltless  character 
she  had  assumed  at  first. 

The  count  took  his  lady's  hand,  and  led  her  down. 
She  bowed  to  the  whole  company  with  a  friendly  air, 
in  passing  by  them :  she  turned  round  again  toward 
Wilhelm,  and  said  to  him,  with  the  most  gracious 
mien,  "  We  shall  soon  meet  again." 

These  happy  prospects  enlivened  the  whole  party : 
every  one  of  them  gave  free  course  to  his  hopes,  his 
wishes,  his  imaginations ;  spoke  of  the  parts  he  would 
play,  and  the  applause  he  would  acquire.  Melina  was 
considering  how  he  might  still,  by  a  few  speedy  ex- 
hibitions, gain  a  little  money  from  the  people  of  the 
town  before  he  left  it;  while  others  went  into  the 
kitchen,  to  order  a  better  dinner  than  of  late  they  had 
been  used  to. 


CHAPTER  II. 

After  a  few  days  the  baron  came,  and  it  was  not 
without  fear  that  Melina  received  him.  The  count 
had  spoken  of  him  as  a  critic  ;  and  it  might  be  dreaded, 
he  would  speedily  detect  the  weakness  of  the  little 
party,  and  see  that  it  formed  no  efficient  troop ;  there 
being  scarcely  a  play  which  they  could  act  in  a  suit- 
able manner.  But  the  manager,  as  well  as  all  the 
members,  were  soon  delivered  from  their  cares,  on  find- 
ing that  the  baron  was  a  man  who  viewed  the  German 
stage  with  a  most  patriotic  enthusiasm,  to  whom  every 
player,  and  every  company  of  players,  was  welcome 
and  agreeable.  He  saluted  them  all  with  great  solem- 
nity ;  was  happy  to  come  upon  a  German  theatre  so 
unexpectedly,  to  get  connected  with  it,  and  to  intro- 
duce their  native  Muses  to  the  mansion  of  his  relative. 
He  then  pulled  out  from  his  pocket  a  bundle  of  stitched 
papers,  in  which  Melina  hoped  to  find  the  terms  of 
their  contract  specified ;  but  it  proved  something  very 
different.  It  was  a  drama,  which  the  baron  himself 
had  composed,  and  wished  to  have  played  by  them: 
he  requested  their  attention  while  he  read  it.  Will- 
ingly they  formed  a  circle  round  him,  charmed  at  be- 
ing able  with  so  little  trouble  to  secure  the  favour  of  a 
man  so  important ;  though,  judging  by  the  thickness  of 
the  manuscript,  it  was  clear  that  a  very  long  rehearsal 
might  be  dreaded.  Their  apprehensions  were  not 
groundless:  the  piece  was  written  in  five  acts,  and 
that  sort  of  acts  which  never  have  an  end. 

The  hero  was  an  excellent,  virtuous,  magnanimous, 

185 


i86  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

and  at  the  same  time  misunderstood  and  persecuted, 
man :  this  worthy  person,  after  many  trials,  gained 
the  victory  at  last  over  all  his  enemies ;  on  whom,  in 
consequence,  the  most  rigorous  poetic  justice  would 
have  been  exercised,  had  he  not  pardoned  them  on 
the  spot. 

While  this  piece  was  rehearsing,  each  of  the  auditors 
had  leisure  enough  to  think  of  himself,  and  to  mount 
up  quite  softly  from  the  humble  prostration  of  mind, 
to  which,  a  httle  while  ago,  he  had  felt  disposed,  into  a 
comfortable  state  of  contentment  with  his  own  gifts 
and  advantages,  and,  from  this  elevation,  to  discover 
the  most  pleasing  prospects  in  the  future.  Such  of 
them  as  found  in  the  play  no  parts  adapted  for  their 
own  acting,  internally  pronounced  it  bad,  and  viewed 
the  baron  as  a  miserable  author ;  while  the  others, 
every  time  they  noticed  any  passage  which  they  hoped 
might  procure  them  a  little  clapping  of  the  hands, 
exalted  it  with  the  greatest  praise,  to  the  immeasur- 
able satisfaction  of  the  author. 

The  commercial  part  of  their  affau'  was  soon  com- 
pleted. Melina  made  an  advantageous  bargain  with 
the  baron,  and  contrived  to  keep  it  secret  from  the 
rest. 

Of  our  friend,  Melina  took  occasion  to  declare  in 
passing,  that  he  seemed  to  be  successfully  qualifying 
himself  for  becoming  a  dramatic  poet,  and  even  to  have 
some  capacities  for  being  an  actor.  The  baron  intro- 
duced himself  to  Wilhelm  as  a  colleague  ;  and  the  latter 
by  and  by  produced  some  short  pieces,  which,  with  a 
few  other  relics,  had  escaped  by  chance,  on  the  day 
when  he  threw  the  greater  part  of  his  works  into  the 
flames.  The  baron  lauded  both  his  pieces  and  dehvery  : 
he  spoke  of  it  as  a  settled  thing,  that  Wilhelm  should 
come  over  to  the  castle  with  the  rest.  For  all,  at  his 
departure,  he  engaged  to  find  the  best  reception,  com- 
fortable quarters,  a  good  table,  applauses,  and  presents ; 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  187 

and  Melina  further  gave  the  promise  of  a  certain  modi- 
cum of  pocket-money  to  each. 

It  is  easy  to  conceive  how  this  visit  raised  the  spirits 
of  the  party  :  instead  of  a  low  and  harassing  situation, 
they  now  at  once  saw  honours  and  enjoyment  before 
them.  On  the  score  of  these  gi-eat  hopes  they  abeady 
made  merry,  and  each  thought  it  needless  and  stingy 
to  retain  a  single  groschen  of  money  in  his  purse. 

Meanwhile  our  friend  was  taking  counsel  with  him- 
self about  accompanying  the  troop  to  the  castle ;  and 
he  found  it,  in  more  than  one  sense,  advisable  to  do  so. 
Melina  was  in  hopes  of  paying  off  his  debt,  at  least  in 
part,  by  this  engagement ;  and  Wilhelm,  who  had  come 
from  home  to  study  men,  was  unwilling  to  let  slip  this 
opportunity  of  examining  the  gi-eat  world,  where  he  ex- 
pected to  obtain  much  insight  into  life,  into  himself, 
and  the  dramatic  art.  With  all  this,  he  durst  not 
confess  how  greatly  he  wished  again  to  be  near  the 
beautiful  countess.  He  rather  sought  to  persuade 
himself  in  general  of  the  mighty  advantages  which  a 
more  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  world  of  rank 
and  wealth  would  procure  for  him.  He  pursued  his 
reflections  on  the  count,  the  countess,  the  baron ;  on 
the  security,  the  grace,  and  propriety  of  their  de- 
meanour he  exclaimed  with  rapture  when  alone : 

"  Thrice  happy  are  they  to  l^e  esteemed,  whom  their 
birth  of  itself  exalts  above  the  lower  stages  of  man- 
kind ;  who  do  not  need  to  traverse  those  perplexities, 
not  even  to  skirt  them,  in  which  many  worthy  men 
so  painfully  consume  the  whole  period  of  life.  Far- 
extending  and  unerring  must  their  vision  be,  on  that 
higher  station ;  easy  each  step  of  their  progi-ess  in  the 
world.  From  their  very  birth,  they  are  placed,  as  it 
were,  in  a  ship,  which,  in  this  voyage  we  have  all  to 
make,  enaldes  them  to  profit  by  the  favourable  winds, 
and  to  ride  out  the  cross  ones  ;  while  others,  bare  of  help, 
must  wear  their  strength  away  in  swimming,  can  de- 


i88  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

rive  little  profit  from  the  favourable  breeze,  and  in  the 
storm  must  soon  become  exhausted,  and  sink  to  the 
bottom.  What  convenience,  what  ease  of  movement, 
does  a  fortune  we  are  born  to  confer  upon  us !  How 
securely  does  a  traffic  flourish,  which  is  founded  on  a 
solid  capital,  where  the  failure  of  one  or  of  many  en- 
terprises does  not  of  necessity  reduce  us  to  inaction ! 
Who  can  better  know  the  worth  and  worthlessness  of 
earthly  things,  than  he  that  has  had  within  his  choice 
the  enjoyment  of  them  from  youth  upwards  ?  and  who 
can  earlier  guide  his  mind  to  the  useful,  the  necessary, 
the  true,  than  he  that  may  convince  himself  of  so 
many  errors  in  an  age  when  his  strength  is  yet  fresh 
to  begin  a  new  career  ? " 

Thus  did  our  friend  cry  joy  to  all  inhabitants  of  the 
upper  regions,  and,  not  to  them  only,  but  to  all  that 
were  permitted  to  approach  their  circle,  and  draw 
water  from  their  wells.  So  he  thanked  his  own  happy 
stars,  that  seemed  preparing  to  grant  this  mighty 
blessing  to  himself. 

Melina,  in  the  meantime,  was  torturing  his  brains 
to  get  the  company  arranged  according  to  their  several 
provinces,  and  each  of  them  appointed  to  produce 
his  own  peculiar  effect.  In  compliance  with  the 
count's  injunctions  and  his  own  persuasions,  he  made 
many  efforts ;  but  at  last,  when  it  came  to  the  point 
of  execution,  he  was  forced  to  be  content,  if,  in  so 
small  a  troop,  he  found  his  people  willing  to  adjust 
themselves  to  this  or  that  part  as  they  best  were  able. 
When  matters  would  admit  of  it,  Laertes  played  the 
lover ;  Philina  the  lady's  maid ;  the  two  young  girls 
took  up  between  them  the  characters  of  the  artless  and 
tender  loved  ones ;  the  boisterous  old  gentleman  of  the 
piece  was  sure  to  be  the  best  acted.  Melina  himself 
thought  he  might  come  forth  as  chevaher;  Madam 
Melina,  to  her  no  small  sorrow,  was  obhged  to  satisfy 
herself  with  personating  young  wives,   or  even  affec- 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  189 

tionate  mothers ;  and  as  in  the  newer  plays,  a  poet  or 
pedant  is  rarely  introduced,  and  still  more  rarely  for 
the  purpose  of  being  laughed  at,  the  well-known  favour- 
ite of  the  count  was  now  usually  transformed  into 
president  or  minister,  —  these  being  commonly  set 
forth  as  knaves,  and  severely  handled  in  the  fifth  act. 
Melina,  too,  in  the  part  of  chamberlain  or  the  like,  in- 
troduced, with  gi-eat  satisfaction,  the  ineptitudes  put 
into  his  hands  by  various  honest  Germans,  according 
to  use  and  wont,  in  many  well-accepted  plays :  he  de- 
lighted in  these  characters,  because  he  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  decking  himself  out  in  a  fashionable  style, 
and  was  called  upon  to  assume  the  airs  of  a  courtier, 
which  he  conceived  himself  to  possess  in  great  perfec- 
tion. 

It  was  not  long  till  they  were  joined  by  several 
actors  from  different  quarters ;  who,  being  received 
without  very  strict  examination,  were  also  retained 
without  very  burdensome  conditions. 

Wilhelm  had  been  more  than  once  assailed  with 
persuasions  from  Mehna  to  undertake  an  amateur  part. 
This  he  declined ;  yet  he  interested  and  occupied  him- 
self about  the  general  cause  with  great  alacrity,  with- 
out our  new  manager's  acknowledging  his  labours  in 
the  smallest.  On  the  contrary,  it  seemed  to  be 
Mehna's  opinion,  that  with  his  oflfice  he  had  at  the 
same  time  picked  up  all  the  necessary  skill  for  carry- 
ing it  on.  In  particular,  the  task  of  curtailment 
formed  one  of  his  most  pleasing  occupations  :  he  would 
succeed  in  reducing  any  given  piece  down  to  the  regu- 
lar measure  of  time,  without  the  shghtest  respect  to 
proprieties  or  proportions,  or  anything  whatever,  but 
his  watch.  He  met  with  great  encouragement;  the 
public  was  very  much  deHghted  ;  the  most  knowing 
inhabitants  of  the  burgh  maintained,  that  the  prince's 
theatre  itseK  was  not  so  well  conducted  as  theirs. 


CHAPTEE   III. 

At  last  the  time  arrived  when  the  company  had  to 
prepare  for  travelhng,  and  to  expect  the  coaches  and 
other  vehicles  that  were  to  carry  them  to  the  count's 
mansion.  Much  altercation  now  took  place  about  the 
mode  of  travelhng,  and  who  should  sit  with  whom. 
The  ordering  and  distribution  of  the  whole  was  at 
length  settled  and  concluded,  with  great  labour,  and, 
alas !  without  effect.  At  the  appointed  hour,  fewer 
coaches  came  than  were  expected :  they  had  to  accom- 
modate themselves  as  the  case  would  admit.  The 
baron,  who  followed  shortly  afterward  on  horseback, 
assigned,  as  the  reason,  that  all  was  in  motion  at  the 
castle,  not  only  because  the  prince  was  to  arrive  a  few 
days  earlier  than  had  been  looked  for,  but  also  because 
an  unexpected  party  of  visitors  were  already  come : 
the  place,  he  said,  was  in  great  confusion ;  on  this  ac- 
count perhaps  they  would  not  lodge  so  comfortably  as 
had  been  intended,  —  a  change  which  grieved  him 
very  much. 

Our  travellers  packed  themselves  into  the  carriages 
the  best  way  they  could ;  and  the  weather  being  toler- 
able, and  the  castle  but  a  few  leagues  distant,  the 
heartiest  of  the  troop  preferred  setting  out  on  foot  to 
waiting  the  return  of  the  coaches.  The  caravan  got 
under  way  with  great  jubilee,  for  the  first  time  with- 
out caring  how  the  landlord's  bill  was  to  be  paid.  The 
count's  mansion  rose  on  their  souls  like  a  palace  of  the 
fairies :  they  were  the  happiest  and  merriest  mortals 
in  the  world.  Each  throughout  the  journey,  in  his 
own  pecuhar  mode,  kept  fastening  a  continued  chain 

190 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  191 

of  fortune,  honour,  and  prosperity  to  that  auspicious 
day. 

A  heavy  rain,  which  fell  unexpectedly,  did  not  ban- 
ish these  delightful  contemplations ;  though,  as  it  in- 
cessantly continued  with  more  and  more  violence, 
many  of  the  party  began  to  show  traces  of  uneasiness. 
The  night  came  on ;  and  no  sight  could  be  more  wel- 
come than  the  palace  of  the  count,  which  shone  upon 
them  from  a  hill  at  some  distance,  glancing  with  hght 
in  all  its  stories,  so  that  they  could  reckon  every  win- 
dow. 

On  approaching  nearer,  they  found  all  the  windows 
in  the  wings  illuminated  also.  Each  of  the  party 
thought  within  himself  what  chamber  would  be  his; 
and  most  of  them  prudently  determined  to  be  satisfied 
with  a  room  in  the  attic,  or  some  of  the  side  buildings. 

They  were  now  proceeding  through  the  village,  past 
the  inn.  Wilhelm  stopped  the  coach,  in  the  mind  to 
alight  there;  but  the  landlord  protested  that  it  was 
not  in  his  power  to  afford  the  least  accommodation: 
his  lordship  the  count,  he  said,  being  visited  by  some 
unexpected  guests,  had  immediately  engaged  the  whole 
inn ;  every  chamber  in  the  house  had  been  marked 
with  chalk  last  night,  specifying  who  was  to  lodge 
there.  Our  friend  was  accordingly  obhged,  against  his 
will,  to  travel  forward  to  the  castle  with  the  rest  of 
the  company. 

In  one  of  the  side  buildings,  round  the  kitchen  fire, 
they  noticed  several  cooks  running  busily  about,  —  a 
sight  which  refreshed  them  not  a  little.  Servants 
came  jumping  hastily  with  lights  to  the  staircase  of 
the  main  door,  and  the  hearts  of  the  worthy  pilgiims 
overflowed  at  the  aspect  of  such  honours.  But  how 
great  was  their  surprise,  when  this  cordial  reception 
changed  into  a  storm  of  curses.  The  servants  scouted 
the  coachman  for  driving  in  hither ;  they  must  wheel 
out  again,  it  was  bawled,  and  take  their  loading  round 


192  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

to  the  old  castle ;  there  was  no  room  here  for  such 
guests  !  To  this  uufriendly  and  unexpected  dismissal, 
they  joined  all  manner  of  jeering,  and  laughed  aloud 
at  each  other  for  leaping  out  in  the  rain  on  so  false  an 
errand.  It  was  still  pouring;  no  star  was  visible  in 
the  sky;  while  our  company  were  dragged  along  a 
rough,  jolting  road,  between  two  walls,  into  the  old 
mansion,  which  stood  behind,  inhabited  by  none  since 
the  present  count's  father  had  built  the  new  residence 
in  front  of  it.  The  carriages  drew  up,  partly  in  the 
courtyard,  partly  in  a  long,  arched  gateway ;  and  the 
postilions,  people  hired  from  the  village,  unyoked  their 
horses,  and  rode  off. 

As  nobody  came  forward  to  receive  the  travellers, 
they  alighted  from  their  places,  they  shouted,  and 
searched.  In  vain !  All  continued  dark  .and  still. 
The  wind  swept  through  the  lofty  gate :  the  court  and 
the  old  towers  were  lying  gray  and  dreary,  and  so  dim 
that  their  forms  could  scarcely  be  distinguished  in  the 
gloom.  The  people  were  all  shuddering  and  freezing ; 
the  women  were  becoming  frightened ;  the  children 
began  to  cry ;  the  general  impatience  was  increasing 
every  minute ;  so  quick  a  revolution  of  fortune,  for 
which  no  one  of  them  had  been  at  all  prepared,  entirely 
destroyed  their  equanimity. 

Expecting  every  minute  that  some  person  would  ap- 
pear and  unbolt  the  doors,  mistaking  at  one  time  the 
pattering  of  rain,  at  another  the  rocking  of  the  wind, 
for  the  much-desired  footstep  of  the  castle  bailiff,  they 
continued  downcast  and  inactive :  it  occurred  to  none 
of  them  to  go  into  the  new  mansion,  and  there  solicit 
help  from  charitable  souls.  They  could  not  under- 
stand where  their  friend  the  baron  was  lingering :  they 
were  in  the  most  disconsolate  condition. 

At  last  some  people  actually  arrived :  by  their  voices, 
they  were  recognised  as  the  pedestrians  who  had  fallen 
behind  the  others   on  the   journey.     They    intimated 


MEISTER'S    apprenticeship  193 

that  the  baron  had  tumbled  with  his  horse,  and  hurt 
his  leg  severely;  and  that,  on  calUng  at  the  castle, 
they,  too,  had  been  roughly  directed  hither. 

The  whole  company  were  in  extreme  perplexity : 
they  guessed  and  speculated  as  to  what  should  now  be 
done,  but  they  could  fix  on  nothing.  At  length  they 
noticed  from  afar  a  lantern  advancing,  and  took  fresh 
breath  at  sight  of  it ;  but  their  hopes  of  quick  dehver- 
ance  again  evaporated,  when  the  object  approached, 
and  came  to  be  distinctly  seen.  A  gToom  was  lighting 
the  well-known  Stallmeister  of  the  castle  toward  them : 
this  gentleman,  on  coming  nearer,  very  anxiously  in- 
quired for  Mademoiselle  Phihna.  No  sooner  had  she 
stepped  forth  from  the  crowd,  than  he  very  pressingly 
offered  to  conduct  her  to  the  new  mansion,  where  a 
little  place  had  been  provided  for  her  with  the  count- 
ess's maids.  She  did  not  hesitate  long  about  accepting 
his  proposal ;  she  caught  his  arm,  and,  recommending 
her  trunk  to  the  care  of  the  rest,  was  going  to  hasten 
off  with  him  directly :  but  the  others  intercepted  them, 
asking,  entreating,  conjuring  the  Stallmeister;  till  at 
last,  to  get  away  Avith  his  fair  one,  he  promised  every- 
thing, assuring  them,  that,  in  a  little  while,  the  castle 
should  be  opened,  and  they  lodged  in  the  most  com- 
fortable manner.  In  a  few  moments  they  saw  the 
glimmer  of  his  lantern  vanish:  they  long  looked  in 
vain  for  another  gleam  of  hght.  At  last,  after  much 
watching,  scolding,  and  reviling,  it  actually  appeared, 
and  revived  them  with  a  touch  of  hope  and  consola- 
tion. 

An  ancient  footman  opened  the  door  of  the  old  edi- 
fice, into  which  they  rushed  with  violence.  Each  of 
them  now  strove  to  have  his  trunk  unfastened,  and 
brought  in  beside  him.  Most  of  this  luggage,  like  the 
persons  of  its  owners,  was  thoroughly  wetted.  Having 
but  a  single  hght,  the  process  of  unpacking  went  on 
very  slowly.     In  the  dark  passages  they  pushed  against 


194  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

each  other,  they  stumbled,  they  fell.  They  begged  to 
have  more  Hghts,  they  begged  to  have  some  fuel.  The 
monosyllabic  footman,  with  much  ado,  consented  to 
put  down  his  own  lantern ;  then  went  his  way,  and 
came  not  again. 

They  now  began  to  investigate  the  edifice.  The 
doors  of  all  the  rooms  were  open :  large  stoves,  tapestry 
hangings,  inlaid  floors,  yet  bore  witness  to  its  former 
pomp ;  but  of  other  house-gear  there  was  none  to  be 
seen,  —  no  table,  chair,  or  mirror,  nothing  but  a  few 
monstrous,  empty  bedsteads,  stripped  of  every  orna- 
ment and  every  necessary.  The  wet  trunks  and 
knapsacks  were  adopted  as  seats :  a  part  of  the  tired 
wanderers  placed  themselves  upon  the  floor.  Wilhelm 
had  sat  down  upon  some  steps :  Mignon  lay  upon  his 
knees.  The  child  was  restless ;  and,  when  he  asked 
what  ailed  her,  she  answered,  "  I  am  hungry."  He 
himself  had  nothing  that  could  still  the  craving  of 
the  child :  the  rest  of  the  party  had  consumed  their 
whole  provision,  so  he  was  obliged  to  leave  the  httle 
traveller  wdthout  refreshment.  Through  the  whole 
adventure  he  had  been  inactive,  silently  immersed 
in  thought.  He  was  very  sullen,  and  full  of  indignant 
regret  that  he  had  not  kept  by  his  first  determination, 
and  remained  at  the  inn,  though  he  should  have  slept 
in  the  garret. 

The  rest  demeaned  themselves  in  various  ways. 
Some  of  them  had  got  a  heap  of  old  wood  collected 
within  a  vast,  gaping  chimney  in  the  hall :  they  set 
fire  to  the  pile  with  great  huzzaing.  Unhappily,  how- 
ever, their  hopes  of  warming  and  drying  themselves 
by  means  of  it  were  mocked  in  the  most  frightful 
manner.  The  chimney,  it  appeared,  was  there  for 
ornament  alone,  and  was  walled  up  above ;  so  the 
smoke  rushed  quickly  back,  and  at  once  filled  the 
whole  chamber.  The  dry  wood  rose  crackling  into 
flames ;  the  flame  was  also  driven  back ;  the  draught 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  195 

sweeping  through  the  broken  windows  gave  it  a  waver- 
ing direction.  Terrified  lest  the  castle  should  catch 
fire,  the  unhappy  guests  had  to  tear  the  burning  sticks 
asunder,  to  smother  and  trample  them  under  their  feet ; 
the  smoke  increased ;  their  case  was  rendered  more 
intolerable  than  before ;  they  were  driven  to  the  brink 
of  desperation. 

Wilhelm  had  retreated  from  the  smoke  into  a 
distant  chamber,  to  which  Mignon  soon  followed  him, 
leading  in  a  well-dressed  servant,  with  a  high,  clear, 
double-lighted  lantern  in  his  hand.  He  turned  to 
Wilhelm,  and,  holding  out  to  him  some  fruits  and 
confectionery  on  a  beautiful  porcelain  plate,  "The 
young  lady  up-stairs,"  said  he,  "  sends  you  this,  with 
the  request  that  you  would  join  her  party:  she  bids 
me  tell  you,"  added  the  lackey,  with  a  sort  of  giin, 
"  that  she  is  very  well  off  yonder,  and  wishes  to  divide 
her  enjoyments  with  her  friends." 

Wilhelm  had  not  at  all  expected  such  a  message ;  for, 
ever  since  the  adventure  on  the  stone  bench,  he  had 
treated  Philina  with  the  most  decided  contempt.  He 
was  still  so  resolute  to  have  no  more  concern  with 
her  that  he  thought  of  sending  back  her  dainty  gifts 
untasted,  when  a  supplicating  look  of  Mignon's  induced 
him  to  accept  them.  He  returned  his  thanks  in  the 
name  of  the  child.  The  invitation  he  entirely  rejected. 
He  desired  the  servant  to  exert  himself  a  little  for 
the  stranger  company,  and  made  inquiry  for  the  baron. 
The  latter,  he  was  told,  had  gone  to  bed,  but  had 
already,  as  the  lackey  understood,  given  orders  to 
some  other  person  to  take  charge  of  these  unfortunate 
and  ill-lodged  gentlemen. 

The  servant  went  away,  leaving  one  of  his  lights, 
which  Wilhelm,  in  the  absence  of  a  candlestick,  con- 
trived to  fix  upon  the  window-casement;  and  now,  at 
least  in  his  meditations,  he  could  see  the  four  walls 
of   his   chamber.     Nor  was  it  long  till   preparations 


196  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

were  commenced  for  conducting  our  travellers  to  rest. 
Candles  arrived  by  degrees,  though  without  snuffers; 
then  a  few  chairs ;  an  hour  afterward  came  bedclothes ; 
then  pillows,  all  well  steeped  in  rain.  It  was  far 
past  midnight  when  straw  beds  and  mattresses  were 
produced,  which,  if  sent  at  first,  would  have  been 
extremely  welcome. 

In  the  interim,  also,  somewhat  to  eat  and  drink  had 
been  brought  in :  it  was  enjoyed  without  much  criti- 
cism ;  though  it  looked  like  a  most  disorderly  collection 
of  remains,  and  offered  no  very  singular  proof  of  the 
esteem  in  which  our  guests  were  held. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

The  disorders  and  mischievous  tricks  of  some  frolic- 
some companions  still  further  augmented  the  disqui- 
etudes and  distresses  of  the  night:  these  gay  people 
woke  each  other ;  each  played  a  thousand  giddy  pranks 
to  plague  his  fellow.  The  next  morning  dawned  amid 
loud  complaints  against  their  friend  the  baron,  for 
having  so  deceived  them,  for  having  given  so  very 
false  a  notion  of  the  order  and  comfort  that  awaited 
their  arrival.  However,  to  their  great  surprise  and 
consolation,  at  an  early  hour  the  count  himself,  at- 
tended by  a  few  servants,  made  his  entrance,  and  in- 
quired about  their  circumstances.  He  appeared  much 
vexed  on  discovering  how  badly  they  had  fared ;  and 
the  baron,  who  came  limping  along,  supported  on  the 
arm  of  a  servant,  bitterly  accused  the  steward  for 
neglecting  his  commands  on  this  occasion,  —  showing 
gi-eat  anxiety  to  have  that  person  punished  for  his 
disobedience. 

The  count  gave  immediate  orders  that  everything 
should  be  arranged,  in  his  presence,  to  the  utmost 
possible  convenience  of  the  guests.  Wliile  this  was 
going  on,  some  officers  arrived,  who  forthwith  scraped 
acquaintance  with  the  actresses.  The  count  assembled 
all  tlie  company  before  him,  spoke  to  each  by  name, 
introduced  a  few  jokes  among  his  observations ;  so 
that  every  one  was  charmed  at  the  gracious  condescen- 
sion of  his  lordship.  At  last  it  came  to  Wilhelm's 
turn.  He  appeared  with  Mignon  holding  by  his  hand. 
Our  friend  excused  himself,  in  the  best  terms  he  could, 

197 


igS  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

for  the  freedom  he  had^  taken.  The  count,  on  the 
other  hand,  spoke  as  if  the  visit  had  been  looked  for. 

A  gentleman,  who  stood  beside  the  count,  and  who, 
although  he  wore  no  uniform,  appeared  to  be  an  officer, 
conversed  with  Wilhelm :  he  was  evidently  not  a  com- 
mon man.  His  large,  keen  blue  eyes,  looking  out 
from  beneath  a  high  brow ;  his  hght-coloured  hair, 
thrown  carelessly  back ;  his  middle  stature ;  every- 
thing about  him,  —  showed  an  active,  firm,  and  deci- 
sive mode  of  being.  His  questions  were  lively.  He 
seemed  to  be  at  home  in  all  that  he  inquired  about. 

Wilhelm  asked  the  baron  what  this  person  was, 
but  found  that  he  had  Httle  good  to  say  of  him.  "  He 
held  the  rank  of  major,  was  the  special  favourite  of 
the  prince ;  managed  his  most  secret  affairs ;  was,  in 
short,  regarded  as  his  right  arm,  —  nay,  there  was 
reason  to  beUeve  him  the  prince's  natural  son.  He 
had  been  on  embassies  in  France,  England,  Italy.  In 
all  those  places  he  had  gi-eatly  distinguished  himself, 
by  which  means  he  was  grown  conceited ;  imagining, 
among  other  pretensions,  that  he  thoroughly  understood 
the  literature  of  Germany,  and  allowing  himself  to 
vent  all  kinds  of  sorry  jests  upon  it.  He,  the  baron, 
was  in  the  habit  of  avoiding  all  intercourse  "^dth  him ; 
and  Wilhelm  would  do  well  to  imitate  that  conduct, 
for  it  somehow  happened  that  no  one  could  be  near 
him  without  being  punished  for  it.  He  iwas  called 
Jarno,  though  nobody  knew  rightly  what  to  make 
of  such  a  name." 

Wilhelm  had  nothing  to  urge  against  all  this :  he 
had  felt  a  sort  of  inclination  for  the  stranger,  though 
he  noticed  in  him  something  cold  and  repulsive. 

The  company  being  arranged  and  distributed  through- 
out the  castle,  Melina  issued  the  strictest  orders  that 
they  should  behave  themselves  with  decency,  the 
women  live  in  a  separate  quarter,  and  each  direct 
his    whole   attention   to   the   study    of   dramatic   art, 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  199 

and  of  the  characters  he  had  to  play.  He  posted  up 
written  ordinances,  consisting  of  many  articles,  upon 
all  the  doors.  He  settled  the  amount  of  fine  which 
should  be  levied  upon  each  transgressor,  and  put  into 
a  common  box. 

This  edict  was  but  little  heeded.  Young  officers 
went  out  and  in ;  they  jested,  not  in  the  most  modest 
fashion,  with  the  actresses ;  made  game  of  the  actors, 
and  annihilated  the  whole  system  of  police  before  it 
had  the  smallest  time  to  take  root  in  the  community. 
The  people  ran  chasing  one  another  through  the  rooms  ; 
they  changed  clothes ;  they  disguised  themselves.  Me- 
lina,  attempting  to  be  rigorous  with  a  few  at  first, 
was  exasperated  by  every  sort  of  insolence ;  and,  when 
the  count  soon  after  sent  for  him  to  come  and  view 
the  place  where  his  theatre  was  to  be  erected,  matters 
grew  worse  and  worse.  The  young  gentry  devised  a 
thousand  broad  jokes :  by  the  help  of  some  actors, 
they  became  yet  coarser.  It  seemed  as  if  the  old  castle 
had  been  altogether  given  up  to  an  infuriate  host, 
and  the  racket  did  not  end  till  dinner. 

Meanwhile,  the  count  had  led  Melina  over  to  a 
large  hall,  which,  though  belonging  to  the  old  castle, 
communicated  by  a  gallery  with  the  new  one :  it 
seemed  very  well  adapted  for  being  changed  into  a 
little  theatre.  Here  the  sagacious  lord  of  the  man- 
sion pointed  out  in  person  how  he  wanted  everything 
to  be. 

The  labour  now  commenced  in  the  greatest  haste; 
the  stage  apparatus  was  erected  and  furbished  up ; 
what  decorations  they  had  brought  along  with  them 
and  could  employ  were  set  in  order,  and  what  was 
wanting  was  prepared  by  some  skilful  workmen  of  the 
count's.  Wilhelm  likewise  put  his  hand  to  the  busi- 
ness ;  he  assisted  in  settling  the  perspective,  in  laying 
off  the  outlines  of  the  scenery :  he  was  very  anxious 
that  nothing  should  be  executed  clumsily.     The  count. 


200  MEISTER'S   APPRENTICESHIP 

who  frequently  came  in  to  inspect  their  progress,  was 
highly  satisfied :  he  showed  particularly  how  they 
should  proceed  in  every  case,  displaying  an  uncommon 
knowledge  of  all  the  arts  they  were  concerned  with. 

Next  began  the  business  of  rehearsing,  in  good 
earnest ;  and  there  would  have  been  enough  of  space 
and  leisure  for  this  undertaking,  had  the  actors  not 
continually  been  interrupted  by  the  presence  of  vis- 
itors. Some  new  guests  were  daily  arriving,  and  each 
insisted  on  viewing  the  operations  of  the  company. 


CHAPTER   V. 

The  baron  had,  for  several  days,  been  cheering  Wil- 
helm  with  the  hope  of  being  formally  presented  to  the 
countess.  "  I  have  told  this  excellent  lady,"  said  he, 
"  so  much  about  the  talent  and  fine  sentiment  dis- 
played in  your  compositions,  that  she  feels  quite 
impatient  to  see  you,  and  hear  one  or  two  of  them 
read.  Be  prepared,  therefore,  to  come  over  at  a 
moment's  notice;  for,  the  first  morning  she  is  at 
leisure,  you  will  certainly  be  called  on."  He  then 
pointed  out  to  him  the  afterpiece  it  would  be  proper 
to  produce  on  that  occasion ;  adding,  that  doubtless 
it  would  recommend  him  to  no  usual  degree  of  favour. 
The  lady,  he  declared,  was  extremely  sorry  that  a 
guest  like  him  had  happened  to  arrive  at  a  time  of 
such  confusion,  when  they  could  not  entertain  him  in 
a  style  more  suitable  to  his  merits  and  their  own 
wishes. 

In  consequence  of  this  information,  Wilhelm,  with 
the  most  sedulous  attention,  set  about  preparing  the 
piece,  which  was  to  usher  him  into  the  great  world, 
"  Hitherto,"  said  he,  "  thou  hast  laboured  in  silence  for 
thyself,  applauded  only  by  a  small  circle  of  friends. 
Thou  hast  for  a  time  despaired  of  thy  abilities,  and  are 
yet  full  of  anxious  doubts  whether  even  thy  present 
path  is  the  right  one,  and  whether  thy  talent  for  the 
stage  at  all  corresponds  with  thy  inclination  for  it. 
In  the  hearing  of  such  practised  judges,  in  the  closet 
where  no  illusion  can  take  place,  the  attempt  is  far 
more  hazardous  than  elsewhere ;  and  yet  I  would  not 
willingly  recoil  from  the  experiment :  I  could  wish  to 

201 


202  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

add  this  pleasure  to  my  former  enjoyments,  and,  if  it 
might  be,  to  give  extension  and  stability  to  my  hopes 
from  the  future." 

He  accordingly  went  through  some  pieces ;  read 
them  with  the  keenest  critical  eye ;  made  corrections 
here  and  there ;  recited  them  aloud,  that  he  might 
be  perfect  in  his  tones  and  expression :  and  finally 
selected  the  work  which  he  was  best  acquainted  with, 
and  hoped  to  gain  most  honour  by.  He  put  it  in  his 
pocket,  one  morning,  on  being  summoned  to  attend 
the  countess. 

The  baron  had  assured  him  that  there  would  be  no 
one  present  but  the  lady  herself  and  a  worthy  female 
friend  of  hers.     On  entering  the  chamber,  the  Baroness 

von  C advanced  with  gi-eat  friendliness  to  meet 

him,  expressed  her  happiness  at  gaining  his  acquaint- 
ance, and  introduced  him  to  the  countess,  who  was 
then  under  the  hands  of  her  hair-dresser.  The  countess 
received  him  with  kind  words  and  looks.  But  it 
vexed  him  to  see  Philina  kneeling  at  her  chair,  and 
playing  a  thousand  fooleries.  "  The  poor  child,"  said 
the  baroness,  "  has  just  been  singing  to  us.  Finish  the 
song  you  were  in  the  midst  of :  we  should  not  like  to 
lose  it." 

Wilhelm  listened  to  her  quavering  with  great 
patience,  being  anxious  for  the  friseur's  departure 
before  he  should  begin  to  read.  They  offered  him 
a  cup  of  chocolate,  the  baroness  herself  handing  him 
the  biscuit.  Yet,  in  spite  of  these  civilities,  he  relished 
not  his  breakfast :  he  was  longing  too  eagerly  to  lay 
before  the  lovely  countess  some  performance  that 
might  interest  and  gratify  her.  Philina,  too,  stood 
somewhat  in  his  way :  on  former  occasions,  while 
listening  to  him,  she  had  more  than  once  been  trouble- 
some. He  looked  at  the  friseur  with  a  painful  feel- 
ing, hoping  every  moment  that  the  tower  of  curls 
would  be  complete. 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  203 

Meanwhile  the  count  came  in,  and  began  to  talk  of 
the  fresh  visitors  he  was  expecting,  of  the  day's  occu- 
pations or  amusements,  and  of  various  domestic  mat- 
ters that  were  started.  On  his  retii'ing,  some  officers 
sent  to  ask  permission  of  the  countess  to  pay  their 
respects  to  her,  as  they  had  to  leave  the  castle  before 
dinner.  The  footman  having  come  to  his  post  at  the 
door,  she  permitted  him  to  usher  in  the  gentlemen. 

The  baroness,  amid  these  interruptions,  took  pains 
to  entertain  our  friend,  and  showed  him  much  consid- 
eration ;  all  which  he  accepted  with  becoming  rever- 
ence, though  not  without  a  little  absence  of  mind. 
He  often  felt  for  the  manuscript  in  his  pocket,  and 
hoped  for  his  deliverance  every  instant.  He  was 
almost  losing  patience,  when  a  man-milliner  was  intro- 
duced, and  immediately  began  without  mercy  to  open 
his  papers,  bags,  and  bandboxes ;  pressing  all  his 
various  wares  upon  the  ladies,  with  an  importunity 
peculiar  to  that  species  of  creature. 

The  company  increased.  The  baroness  cast  a  look 
at  Wilhelm,  and  then  whispered  with  the  countess : 
he  noticed  this,  but  did  not  understand  the  purpose 
of  it.  The  whole,  however,  became  clear  enough, 
when,  after  an  hour  of  painful  and  fruitless  endur- 
ance, he  went  away.  He  then  found  a  beautiful 
pocketbook,  of  English  manufacture,  in  his  pocket. 
The  baroness  had  dexterously  put  it  there  without 
his  notice ;  and  soon  afterward  the  countess's  little 
black  came  out,  and  handed  him  an  elegantly  flowered 
waistcoat,  without  very  clearly  saying  whence  it 
came. 


CHAPTEE   VI. 

This  mingled  feeling  of  vexation  and  gratitude 
spoiled  the  remainder  of  his  day ;  till,  toward  evening, 
he  once  more  found  employment.  Melina  informed 
him  that  the  count  had  been  speaking  of  a  little  pre- 
lude, which  he  wished  to  have  produced  in  honour  of 
the  prince,  on  the  day  of  his  Highness's  arrival.  He 
meant  to  have  the  great  qualities  of  this  noble  hero 
and  philanthropist  personified  in  the  piece.  These 
Virtues  were  to  advance  together,  to  recite  his  praises, 
and  finally  to  encircle  his  bust  with  garlands  of 
flowers  and  laurels ;  behind  which  a  transparency 
might  be  inserted,  representing  the  princely  hat,  and 
his  name  illuminated  on  it.  The  count,  Melina  said, 
had  ordered  him  to  take  charge  of  getting  ready  the 
verses  and  other  arrangements;  and  Wilhelm,  he 
hoped,  to  whom  it  must  be  an  easy  matter,  would 
stand  by  him  on  this  occasion. 

"  What ! "  exclaimed  our  friend,  in  a  splenetic  tone, 
"  have  we  nothing  but  portraits,  illuminated  names, 
and  allegorical  figures,  to  show  in  honour  of  a  prince, 
who,  in  my  opinion,  merits  quite  a  different  eulogy  ? 
How  can  it  flatter  any  reasonable  man  to  see  himself 
set  up  in  effigy,  and  his  name  glimmering  on  oiled 
paper  ?  I  am  very  much  afraid  that  your  allegories, 
particularly  in  the  present  state  of  the  wardrobe,  will 
furnish  occasion  for  many  ambiguities  and  jestings. 
If  you  mean,  however,  to  compose  the  play,  or  have 
it  composed,  I  can  have  nothing  to  object;  only  I 
desire  to  have  no  part  or  lot  in  the  matter." 

204 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  205 

Melina  excused  himself ;  alleging  this  to  be  only  a 
casual  hint  of  his  lordship  the  count,  who  for  the  rest 
had  left  the  arrangement  of  the  piece  entirely  in  their 
own  hands.  "  With  all  my  heart,"  replied  our  friend, 
"  will  I  contribute  something  to  the  pleasure  of  this 
noble  family :  my  Muse  has  never  had  so  pleasant  an 
employment  as  to  sing,  though  in  broken  numbers, 
the  praises  of  a  prince  who  merits  so  much  veneration. 
J  will  think  of  the  matter :  perhaps  I  may  be  able  to 
contrive  some  way  of  bringing  out  our  httle  troop,  so 
as  at  least  to  produce  some  effect." 

From  this  moment  Wilhelm  eagerly  reflected  on  his 
undertaking.  Before  going  to  sleep  he  had  got  it  all 
reduced  to  some  degree  of  order ;  early  next  morning 
his  plan  was  ready,  the  scenes  laid  out ;  a  few  of  the 
most  striking  passages  and  songs  were  even  versified 
and  written  down. 

As  soon  as  he  was  dressed,  our  friend  made  haste  to 
wait  upon  the  baron,  to  submit  the  plan  to  his  inspec- 
tion, and  take  his  advice  upon  certain  points  connected 
with  it.  The  baron  testified  his  approbation  of  it,  but 
not  without  considerable  surprise.  For,  on  the  pre- 
vious evening,  he  had  heard  his  lordship  talk  of  having 
ordered  some  quite  different  piece  to  be  prepared  and 
versified. 

"  To  me  it  seems  improbable,"  replied  our  friend, 
"that  it  could  be  his  lordship's  wish  to  have  the  piece 
got  ready,  exactly  as  he  gave  it  to  Melina.  If  I  am 
not  mistaken,  he  intended  merely  to  point  out  to  us 
from  a  distance  the  path  we  were  to  follow.  The 
amateur  and  critic  shows  the  artist  what  is  wanted, 
and  then  leaves  to  him  the  care  of  producing  it  by 
his  own  means." 

"  Not  at  all,"  replied  the  baron :  "  his  lordship  under- 
stands that  the  piece  shall  be  composed  according  to 
that  and  no  other  plan  which  he  has  himself  pre- 
scribed.    Yours  has,  indeed,  a  remote  similarity  with 


2o6  MEISTER'S  APPRENTICESHIP 

his  idea ;  but  if  we  mean  to  accomplish  our  purpose, 
and  get  the  count  diverted  from  his  first  thought,  we 
shall  need  to  employ  the  ladies  in  the  matter.  The 
baroness  especially  contrives  to  execute  such  operations 
in  the  most  masterly  manner:  the  question  is  now, 
whether  your  plan  shall  so  please  her,  that  she  will 
undertake  the  business ;  in  that  case  it  will  certainly 
succeed." 

"We  need  the  assistance  of  the  ladies,"  said  our 
friend,  "  at  any  rate ;  for  neither  our  company  nor  our 
wardrobe  would  suffice  without  them.  I  have  counted 
on  some  pretty  children,  that  are  running  up  and  down 
the  house,  and  belong  to  certain  of  the  servants." 

He  then  desii'ed  the  baron  to  communicate  his  plan 
to  the  ladies.  The  baron  soon  returned  with  intelli- 
gence that  they  wished  to  speak  with  Wilhelm  person- 
ally. That  same  evening,  when  the  gentlemen  sat 
down  to  play,  which,  owing  to  the  arrival  of  a  certain 
general,  was  expected  to  be  deeper  and  keener  than 
usual,  the  countess  and  her  friend,  under  pretext  of 
some  indisposition,  would  retire  to  their  chamber, 
where  Wilhelm,  being  introduced  by  a  secret  staircase, 
might  submit  his  project  without  interruption.  This 
sort  of  mystery,  the  baron  said,  would  give  the  adven- 
ture a  peculiar  charm ;  in  particular  the  baroness  was  re- 
joicing like  a  child  in  the  prospect  of  their  rendezvous, 
and  the  more  so,  because  it  was  to  be  accomplished 
secretly,  and  against  the  inclination  of  the  count. 

Toward  evening,  at  the  appointed  time,  Wilhelm 
was  sent  for,  and  led  in  with  caution.  As  the  baroness 
advanced  to  meet  him  in  a  small  cabinet,  the 
manner  of  their  interview  brought  former  happy 
scenes  for  a  moment  to  his  mind.  She  conducted  him 
along  to  the  countess's  chamber,  and  they  now  pro- 
ceeded earnestly  to  question  and  investigate.  He  ex- 
hibited his  plan  with  the  utmost  warmth  and  vivacity, 
so  that  his  fair   audience  were  quite  decided  in  its 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  207 

favour.  Our  readers  also  will  permit  us  to  present  a 
brief  sketch  of  it  here. 

The  play  was  to  open  with  a  dance  of  children  in 
some  rural  scene,  —  their  dance  representing  that 
particular  game  wherein  each  has  to  wheel  round,  and 
gain  the  other's  place.  This  was  to  be  followed  by 
several  variations  of  their  play  ;  till  at  last,  in  perform- 
ing a  dance  of  the  repeating  kind,  they  were  all  to  sing 
a  merry  song. 

Here  the  old  harper  with  Mignon  was  to  enter,  and, 
by  the  curiosity  which  they  excited,  gather  several 
countrypeople  round  them ;  the  harper  would  sing 
various  songs  in  praise  of  peace,  repose,  and  joy ;  and 
Mignon  would  then  dance  the  egg-dance. 

In  these  innocent  delights,  they  are  disturbed  by  the 
sound  of  martial  music ;  and  the  party  are  surprised 
by  a  troop  of  soldiers.  The  men  stand  on  the  defen- 
sive, and  are  overcome :  the  girls  flee,  and  are  over- 
taken. In  the  tumult  all  seems  going  to  destruction, 
when  a  person  (about  whose  form  and  qualities  the 
poet  was  not  yet  determined)  enters,  and,  by  signifying 
that  the  general  is  near,  restores  composure.  Where- 
upon the  hero's  character  is  painted  in  the  finest 
colours  ;  security  is  promised  in  the  midst  of  arms ; 
violence  and  lawless  disorder  are  now  to  be  restrained. 
A  universal  festival  is  held  in  honour  of  the  noble- 
minded  captain. 

The  countess  and  her  friend  expressed  great  satis- 
faction with  the  plan ;  only  they  maintained  that 
there  must  of  necessity  be  something  of  allegory  intro- 
duced, to  make  it  palatable  to  his  lordship.  The  baron 
proposed  that  the  leader  of  the  soldiers  should  be 
represented  as  the  Genius  of  Dissension  and  Violence ; 
that  Minerva  should  then  advance  to  bind  fetters  on 
him,  to  give  notice  of  the  hero's  approach,  and  cele- 
brate his  praise.  The  baroness  undertook  the  task  of 
persuading  the  count  that  this  plan  was  the  one  pro- 


2o8  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

posed  by  himself,  with  a  few  alterations  ;  at  the  same 
time  expressly  stipulating,  that  without  fail,  at  the 
conclusion  of  the  piece,  the  bust,  the  illuminated  name, 
and  the  princely  hat  should  be  exhibited  in  due  order ; 
since  otherwise,  her  attempt  was  vain. 

Wilhelm  had  already  jBgured  in  his  mind  how  deli- 
cately and  how  nobly  he  would  have  the  praises  of  his 
hero  celebrated  in  the  mouth  of  Minerva,  and  it  was  not 
without  a  long  struggle  that  he  yielded  in  this  point. 
Yet  he  felt  himself  delightfully  constrained  to  yield. 
The  beautiful  eyes  of  the  countess,  and  her  lovely  de- 
meanour, would  easily  have  moved  him  to  sin  against 
his  conscience  as  a  poet ;  to  abandon  the  finest  and 
most  interesting  invention,  the  keenly  wished-for  unity 
of  his  composition,  and  all  its  most  suitable  details.  His 
conscience  as  a  burgher  had  a  trial  no  less  hard  to 
undergo,  when  the  ladies,  in  distributing  the  characters, 
pointedly  insisted  that  he  must  undertake  one  him- 
self. 

Laertes  had  received  for  his  allotment  the  part  of 
that  violent  war-god ;  Wilhelm  was  to  represent  the 
leader  of  the  peasants,  who  had  some  very  pretty  and 
tender  verses  to  recite.  After  long  resistance  he  was 
forced  to  comply :  he  could  find  no  excuse,  when  the 
baroness  protested  that  their  stage  was  in  all  respects 
to  be  regarded  as  a  private  one,  and  that  she  herself 
would  very  gladly  play  on  it,  if  they  could  find  her  a 
fit  occasion.  On  receiving  his  consent,  they  parted 
with  our  friend  on  the  kindest  terms.  The  baroness 
assured  him  that  he  was  an  incomparable  man:  she 
accompanied  him  to  the  little  stairs,  and  wished  him 
good  night  with  a  squeeze  of  the  hand. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

The  interest  in  his  undertakings,  which  the  countess 
and  her  friend  expressed  and  felt  so  warmly,  quickened 
Wilhelm's  faculties  and  zeal :  the  plan  of  his  piece, 
which  the  process  of  describing  it  had  rendered  more 
distinct,  was  now  present  in  the  most  brilliant  vivid- 
ness before  his  mind.  He  spent  the  greater  part  of 
that  night,  and  the  whole  of  next  morning,  in  the 
sedulous  versification  of  the  dialogue  and  songs. 

He  had  proceeded  a  considerable  way,  when  a  mes- 
sage came,  requiring  his  attendance  in  the  castle :  the 
noble  company,  who  were  then  at  breakfast,  wished  to 
speak  with  him.  As  he  entered  the  parlour,  the  baroness 
advanced  to  meet  him,  and,  under  pretext  of  wishing 
him  good  morning,  whispered  cunningly,  "  Say  nothing 
of  your  piece  but  what  you  shall  be  asked." 

"  I  hear,"  cried  the  count  to  him,  "  that  you  are  very 
busy  working  at  my  prelude,  which  I  mean  to  present 
in  honour  of  the  prince.  I  consent  that  you  introduce 
a  Minerva  into  it ;  and  we  are  just  thinking  before- 
hand how  the  goddess  shall  be  dressed,  that  we  may 
not  blunder  in  costume.  For  this  purpose  I  am  caus- 
ing them  to  fetch  from  the  library  all  the  books  that 
contain  any  figures  of  her." 

At  the  same  instant,  one  or  two  servants  entered  the 
parlour,  with  a  huge  basket  full  of  books  of  every  shape 
and  appearance. 

Montfaucon,  the  collections  of  antique  statues,  gems, 
and  coins,  all  sorts  of  mythological  writings,  were 
turned  up,  and  their  plates  compared.  But  this  was 
not  enough.     The  count's  faithful  memory  recalled  to 

2og 


2IO  MEISTER'S   APPRENTICESHIP 

him  all  tlie  Minervas  to  be  found  in  frontispieces,  vign- 
ettes, or  anywhere  else ;  and  book  after  book  was,  in 
consequence,  carried  from  the  library,  till  finally  the 
count  was  sitting  in  a  chaos  of  volumes.  Unable  at 
last  to  recollect  any  other  figure  of  Minerva,  he  ob- 
served with  a  smile,  "  I  durst  bet,  that  now  there  is  not 
a  single  Minerva  in  all  the  hbrary ;  and  perhaps  it  is 
the  first  time  that  a  collection  of  books  has  been  so 
totally  deprived  of  the  presence  of  its  patron  goddess." 

The  whole  company  were  merry  at  this  thought: 
Jarno  particularly,  who  had  all  along  been  spurring  on 
the  count  to  call  for  more  and  more  books,  laughed 
quite  immoderately. 

"  Now,"  said  the  count,  turning  to  Wilhelm,  "  one 
chief  point  is,  —  which  goddess  do  you  mean  ?  Minerva, 
or  Pallas  ?     The  goddess  of  war,  or  of  the  arts  ? " 

"  Would  it  not  be  best,  your  Excellency,"  said  Wil- 
helm, "  if  we  were  not  clearly  to  express  ourselves  on 
this  head ;  if,  since  the  goddess  plays  a  double  part 
in  the  ancient  mythology,  we  also  exhibited  her  here 
in  a  double  quality  ?  She  announces  a  warrior,  but 
only  to  calm  the  tumults  of  the  people ;  she  cele- 
brates a  hero  by  exalting  his  humanity ;  she  conquers 
violence,  and  restores  peace  and  security." 

The  baroness,  afraid  lest  Wilhelm  might  betray  him- 
self, hastily  pushed  forward  the  countess's  tailor,  to 
give  his  opinion  how  such  an  antique  robe  could  best 
be  got  ready.  This  man,  being  frequently  employed 
in  making  masquerade  dresses,  very  easily  contrived 
the  business :  and  as  Madam  Mehna,  notwithstanding 
her  advanced  state  of  pregnancy,  had  undertaken  to 
enact  the  celestial  virgin,  the  tailor  was  directed  to 
take  her  measure  ;  and  the  countess,  though  with  some 
reluctance,  selected  from  the  wardrobe  the  clothes  he 
was  to  cut  up  for  that  purpose. 

The  baroness,  in  her  dexterous  way,  again  contrived 
to  lead  Wilhelm  aside,  and  let  him  know  that  she  had 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  21 1 

been  providing  all  the  other  necessaries.  Shortly  after- 
ward she  sent  him  the  musician,  who  had  charge  of 
the  count's  private  band ;  and  this  professor  set  about 
composing  what  airs  were  wanted,  or  choosing  from  his 
actual  stock  such  tunes  as  appeared  suitable.  From 
this  time  all  went  on  according  to  the  wishes  of  our 
friend ;  the  count  made  no  more  inquiries  about  the 
piece ;  being  altogether  occupied  with  the  transparent 
decoration,  destined  to  surprise  the  spectators  at  the 
conclusion  of  the  play.  His  inventive  genius,  aided  by 
the  skill  of  his  confectioner,  produced,  in  fact,  a  very 
pretty  article.  In  the  course  of  his  travels,  the  count 
had  witnessed  the  most  splendid  exhibitions  of  this 
sort :  he  had  also  brought  home  with  him  a  number  of 
copper-plates  and  drawings,  and  could  sketch  such 
things  with  considerable  taste. 

Meanwhile  Wilhelm  finished  the  play,  gave  every 
one  his  part,  and  began  the  study  of  his  own.  The 
musician  also,  having  gi-eat  skill  in  dancing,  prepared 
the  ballet ;  so  that  everything  proceeded  as  it  ought. 

Yet  one  unexpected  obstacle  occurred,  which  threat- 
ened to  occasion  an  unpleasant  gap  in  the  performance. 
He  had  promised  to  himself  a  striking  effect  from 
Mignon's  egg-dance,  and  was  much  surprised  when 
the  child,  with  her  customary  dryness  of  manner, 
refused  to  dance ;  saying  she  was  now  his,  and  would 
no  more  go  upon  the  stage.  He  sought  to  move 
her  by  every  sort  of  persuasion,  and  did  not  dis- 
continue his  attempt  till  she  began  weeping  bitterly, 
fell  at  his  feet,  and  cried  out, "  Dearest  father  !  stay  thou 
from  the  boards  thyself ! "  Little  heeding  this  caution, 
he  studied  how  to  give  the  scene  some  other  turn 
that  might  be  equally  interesting. 

Philina,  whose  appointment  was  to  act  one  of  the 
peasant  girls,  and  in  the  concluding  dance  to  give  the 
single-voice  part  of  the  song,  and  lead  the  chorus,  felt 
exceedingly  delighted  that  it  had  been  so  ordered.     In 


212  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

other  respects,  too,  her  present  life  was  altogether  to 
her  mind :  she  had  her  separate  chamber ;  was  con- 
stantly beside  the  countess,  entertaining  her  with 
fooleries,  and  daily  received  some  present  for  her  pains. 
Among  other  things,  a  dress  had  been  expressly  made 
for  her  wearing  in  this  prelude.  And  being  of  a  light, 
imitative  nature,  she  quickly  marked  in  the  procedure 
of  the  ladies  whatever  would  befit  herself :  she  had 
of  late  grown  all  politeness  and  decorum.  The  atten- 
tions of  the  Stallmeister  augmented  rather  than  dimin- 
ished ;  and  as  the  officers  also  paid  zealous  court  to 
her,  living  in  so  genial  an  element,  it  came  into  her 
head  for  once  in  her  life  to  play  the  prude,  and,  in  a 
quiet,  gradual  way,  to  take  upon  herself  a  certain 
dignity  of  manner  to  which  she  had  not  before  aspired. 
Cool  and  sharp-sighted  as  she  was,  eight  days  had  not 
elapsed  till  she  knew  the  weak  side  of  every  person  in 
the  house ;  so  that,  had  she  possessed  the  power  of 
acting  from  any  constant  motive,  she  might  very  easily 
have  made  her  fortune.  But  on  this  occasion,  as  on 
all  others,  she  employed  her  advantages  merely  to 
divert  herself,  —  to  procure  a  bright  to-day,  and  be 
impertinent,  wherever  she  observed  that  impertinence 
was  not  attended  with  danger. 

The  parts  were  now  committed  to  memory :  a  re- 
hearsal of  the  piece  was  ordered  ;  the  count  purposed 
to  be  present  at  it,  and  his  lady  began  to  feel  anxious 
how  he  might  receive  it.  The  baroness  called  Wilhelm 
to  her  privately.  The  nearer  the  hour  approached, 
they  all  displayed  the  more  perplexity ;  for  the  truth 
was,  that,  of  the  count's  original  idea,  nothing  whatever 
had  been  introduced.  Jarno,  who  joined  them  while 
consulting  together,  was  admitted  to  the  secret.  He 
felt  amused  at  the  contrivance,  and  was  heartily 
disposed  to  offer  the  ladies  his  good  services  in  carry- 
ing it  through.  "  It  will  go  hard,"  said  he,  "  if  you 
cannot   extricate    yourselves  without   help  from   this 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  213 

affair ;  but,  at  all  events,  I  will  wait,  as  a  body  of 
reserve."  The  baroness  then  told  them  how  she  had 
on  various  occasions  recited  the  whole  piece  to  the 
count,  but  only  in  fragments  and  without  order ;  that 
consequently  he  was  prepared  for  each  individual  pas- 
sage, yet  certainly  possessed  with  the  idea  that  the 
whole  would  coincide  with  his  original  conception.  "  I 
will  sit  by  him,"  said  she,  "  to-night  at  the  rehearsal, 
and  study  to  divert  his  attention.  The  confectioner  I 
have  engaged  already  to  make  the  decoration  as  beau- 
tiful as  possible,  but  as  yet  he  has  not  quite  com- 
pleted it." 

-'  I  know  of  a  court,"  said  Jarno,  "  where  I  wish  we 
had  a  few  such  active  and  prudent  friends  as  you.  If 
your  skill  to-night  will  not  suffice,  give  me  a  signal :  I 
will  take  out  the  count,  and  not  let  him  in  again  till 
Minerva  enter;  and  you  have  speedy  aid  to  expect 
from  the  illumination.  For  a  day  or  two  I  have  had 
something  to  report  to  him  about  his  cousin,  which  for 
various  reasons  I  have  hitherto  postponed.  It  will 
give  his  thoughts  another  turn,  and  that  none  of  the 
pleasantest." 

Business  hindered  the  count  from  being  present 
when  the  play  began ;  the  baroness  amused  him  after 
his  arrival :  Jarno's  help  was  not  required.  For  as  the 
count  had  abundance  of  employment  in  pointing  out 
improvements,  rectifying  and  arranging  the  detached 
parts,  he  entirely  forgot  the  purport  of  the  whole  ;  and, 
as  at  last  Madam  Melina  advanced,  and  spoke  accord- 
ing to  his  heart,  and  the  transparency  did  well,  he 
seemed  completely  satisfied.  It  was  not  till  the  whole 
was  finished,  and  his  guests  were  sitting  down  to  cards, 
that  the  difference  appeared  to  strike  him ;  and  he 
began  to  think  whether,  after  all,  this  piece  was 
actually  of  his  invention.  At  a  signal  from  the 
baroness,  Jarno  then  came  forward  into  action  ;  the 
evening  passed  away ;  the  intelligence  of  the  prince's 


214  MEISTER'S  APPRENTICESHIP 

approach  was  confirmed ;  the  people  rode  out  more 
than  once  to  see  his  vanguard  encamping  in  the 
neighbourhood ;  the  house  was  full  of  noise  and 
tumult ;  and  our  actors,  not  always  served  in  the  hand- 
somest manner  by  unwilhng  servants,  had  to  pass  their 
time  in  practisings  and  expectations  at  their  quarters 
in  the  old  mansion,  without  any  one  particularly  taking 
thought  about  them. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

At  length  the  prince  arrived,  with  all  his  generals, 
staff-officers,  and  suite  accompanying  him.  These,  and 
the  multitude  of  people  coming  to  visit  or  do  business 
with  him,  made  the  castle  like  a  beehive  on  the  point 
of  swarming.  All  pressed  forward  to  behold  a  man  no 
less  distinguished  by  his  rank  than  by  his  great  quali- 
ties, and  all  admired  his  urbanity  and  condescension : 
all  were  astonished  at  finding  the  hero  and  the  leader 
of  armies  also  the  most  accomplished  and  attractive 
courtier. 

By  the  count's  orders,  the  inmates  of  the  castle  were 
required  to  be  all  at  their  posts  when  the  prince 
arrived;  not  a  player  was  allowed  to  show  himself, 
that  his  Highness  might  have  no  anticipation  of  the 
spectacle  prepared  to  welcome  him.  Accordingly,  when 
at  evening  he  was  led  into  the  lofty  hall,  glowing  with 
light,  and  adorned  with  tapestries  of  the  previous 
century,  he  seemed  not  at  all  prepared  to  expect  a 
play,  and  still  less  a  prelude  in  honour  of  himself. 
Everything  went  off  as  it  should  have  done  :  at  the 
conclusion  of  the  show,  the  whole  troop  were  called 
and  presented  individually  to  the  prince,  who  con- 
trived, with  the  most  pleasing  and  friendly  air,  to  put 
some  question,  or  make  some  remark,  to  every  one  of 
them.  Wilhelm,  as  author  of  the  piece,  was  partic- 
ularly noticed,  and  had  his  tribute  of  applause  liberally 
paid  him. 

The  prelude  being  fairly  over,  no  one  asked  another 
word  about  it :  in  a  few  days,  it  was  as  if  it  never  had 
existed ;  except  that  occasionally  Jarno  spoke  of  it  to 

215 


2i6  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

Wilhelm,  judiciously  praised  it,  adding,  however,  "  It 
is  pity  you  should  play  with  hollow  nuts,  for  a  stake 
of  hollow  nuts."  This  expression  stuck  in  Wilhelm's 
mind  for  several  days :  he  knew  not  how  to  explain  it, 
or  what  to  infer  from  it. 

Meanwhile  the  company  kept  acting  every  night, 
as  well  as  their  capacities  permitted ;  each  doing  his 
utmost  to  attract  the  attention  of  spectators.  Unde- 
served applauses  cheered  them  on:  in  their  old  cas- 
tle they  fully  believed,  that  the  great  assemblage  was 
crowding  thither  solely  on  their  account ;  that  the  mul- 
titude of  strangers  was  allured  by  their  exhibitions ; 
that  tlicy  were  the  centre  round  which,  and  by  means 
of  which,  the  whole  was  moving  and  revolving. 

Wilhelm  alone  discovered,  to  his  sorrow,  that  di- 
rectly the  reverse  was  true.  For  although  the  prince 
had  waited  out  the  first  exhibitions,  sitting  on  his 
chair,  with  the  greatest  conscientiousness,  yet  by 
degi-ees  he  grew  remiss  in  his  attendance,  and  seized 
every  plausible  occasion  of  withdrawing.  And  those 
very  people  whom  Wilhelm,  in  conversation,  had  found 
to  be  the  best  informed  and  most  sensible,  with  Jarno 
at  their  head,  were  wont  to  spend  but  a  few  transitory 
moments  in  the  hall  of  the  theatre ;  sitting  for  the  rest 
of  their  time  in  the  antechamber,  gaming,  or  seeming 
to  employ  themselves  in  business. 

Amid  all  his  persevering  efforts,  to  want  the  wished 
and  hoped  for  approbation  grieved  Wilhelm  very 
deeply.  In  the  choice  of  plays,  in  transcribing  the 
parts,  in  numerous  rehearsals,  and  whatever  further 
could  be  done,  he  zealously  cooperated  with  Melina, 
who,  being  in  secret  conscious  of  his  own  insufficiency, 
at  length  acknowledged  and  pursued  these  counsels. 
His  own  parts  Wilhelm  diligently  studied,  and 
executed  with  vivacity  and  feehng,  and  with  all  the 
propriety  the  little  training  he  had  yet  received 
would   allow. 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  217 

At  the  same  time,  the  unwearied  interest  the  baron 
took  in  their  performances  obliterated  every  doubt  from 
the  minds  of  the  rest  of  the  company  :  he  assured  them 
that  their  exhibitions  were  producing  the  deepest 
effect,  especially  while  one  of  his  own  pieces  had  been 
representing;  only  he  was  grieved  to  say,  the  prince 
showed  an  exclusive  inchnation  for  the  French  theatre  ; 
while  a  part  of  his  people,  among  whom  Jar  no  was 
especially  distinguished,  gave  a  passionate  preference 
to  the  monstrous  productions  of  the  English  stage. 

If  in  this  way  the  art  of  our  players  was  not 
adequately  noticed  and  admired,  their  persons  on  the 
other  hand  grew  not  entirely  indifferent  to  all  the 
gentlemen  and  all  the  ladies  of  the  audience.  We 
observed  above,  that,  from  the  very  first,  our  actresses 
had  drawn  upon  them  the  attention  of  the  young 
officers:  in  the  sequel  they  were  luckier,  and  made 
more  important  conquests.  But,  omitting  these,  we 
shall  merely  observe,  that  Wilhelm  every  day  appeared 
more  interesting  to  the  countess ;  while  in  him,  too,  a 
silent  inclination  toward  her  was  beginning  to  take 
root.  Whenever  he  was  on  the  stage,  she  could  not 
turn  her  eyes  from  him ;  and,  erelong,  he  seemed  to 
play  and  to  recite  with  his  face  toward  her  alone.  To 
look  upon  each  other,  was  to  them  the  sweetest  satis- 
faction ;  to  which  their  harmless  souls  yielded  without 
reserve,  without  cherishing  a  bolder  wish,  or  thinking 
about  any  consequence. 

As  two  hostile  outposts  will  sometimes  peacefully 
and  pleasantly  converse  together  across  the  river  which 
divides  them,  not  thinking  of  the  war  in  which  both 
their  countries  are  engaged :  so  did  the  countess  ex- 
change looks  full  of  meaning  with  our  friend,  across  the 
vast  chasm  of  birth  and  rank  ;  both  believing  for  them- 
selves that  they  might  safely  cherish  their  several 
emotions. 

The  baroness,  in  the  meantime,  had  selected  Laertes, 


2i8  MEISTER'S   APPRENTICESHIP 

who,  being  a  spirited  and  lively  young  man,  pleased 
her  very  much ;  and  who,  woman-hater  as  he  was,  felt 
unwilling  to  refuse  a  passing  adventure.  He  would 
actually  on  this  occasion  have  been  fettered,  against  his 
will,  by  the  courteous  and  attractive  nature  of  the 
baroness,  had  not  the  baron  done  him  accidentally  a 
piece  of  good,  or,  if  you  will,  of  bad,  service,  by  instruct- 
ing him  a  Httle  in  the  habits  and  temper  of  this  lady. 

Laertes,  happening  once  to  celebrate  her  praises,  and 
give  her  the  preference  to  every  other  of  her  sex,  the 
baron,  with  a  giin,  replied,  "  I  see  how  matters  stand : 
our  fair  friend  has  got  a  fresh  inmate  for  her  stalls." 
This  luckless  comparison,  which  pointed  too  clearly  to 
the  dangerous  caresses  of  the  Circe,  grieved  poor  Laer- 
tes to  the  heart:  he  could  not  hsten  to  the  baron 
without  spite  and  anger,  as  the  latter  continued  with- 
out mercy : 

"Every  stranger  thinks  he  is  the  first  whom  this 
delightful  manner  of  proceeding  has  concerned,  but  he 
is  grievously  mistaken ;  for  we  have  all,  at  one  time  or 
another,  been  trotted  round  this  course.  Man,  youth,  or 
boy,  be  who  he  like,  each  must  devote  himself  to  her 
service  for  a  season,  must  hang  about  her,  and  toil  and 
long  to  gain  her  favour." 

To  the  happy  man  just  entering  the  garden  of  an 
enchantress,  and  welcomed  by  all  the  pleasures  of  an 
artificial  spring,  nothing  can  form  a  more  unpleasant 
surprise,  than  if,  while  his  ear  is  watching  and  drinking 
in  the  music  of  the  nightingales,  some  transformed 
predecessor  on  a  sudden  grunts  at  his  feet. 

After  this  discovery,  Laertes  felt  heartily  ashamed 
that  vanity  should  have  again  misled  him  to  think 
well,  even  in  the  smallest  degree,  of  any  woman  what- 
soever. He  now  entirely  forsook  the  baroness  ;  kept  by 
the  Stallmeister,  with  whom  he  diligently  fenced  and 
hunted ;  conducting  himself  at  rehearsals  and  represen- 
tations as  if  these  were  but  secondary  matters. 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  219 

The  count  and  his  lady  would  often  in  the  mornings 
send  for  some  of  the  company  to  attend  them,  and  all 
had  continual  cause  to  envy  the  undeserved  good  for- 
tune of  Phihua.  The  count  kept  his  favourite,  the 
Pedant,  frequently  for  hours  together,  at  his  toilet.  This 
genius  had  been  dressed  out  by  degi'ees ;  he  was  now 
equipped  and  furnished,  even  to  watch  and  snuff-box. 

Many  times,  too,  particularly  after  dinner,  the  whole 
company  were  called  out  before  the  noble  guests,  —  an 
honour  which  the  artists  regarded  as  the  most  flattering 
in  the  world ;  not  observing,  that  on  these  very  occa- 
sions the  servants  and  huntsmen  were  ordered  to  bring 
in  a  multitude  of  hounds,  and  to  lead  strings  of  horses 
about  the  court  of  the  castle. 

Wilhelm  had  been  counselled  to  praise  Eacine,  the 
prince's  favourite,  and  thereby  to  attract  some  portion  of 
his  Highness's  favour  to  himself.  On  one  of  these  after- 
noons, being  summoned  with  the  rest,  he  found  an 
opportunity  to  introduce  this  topic.  The  prince  asked 
him  if  he  diligently  read  the  gxeat  French  dramatic 
writers,  to  which  Wilhelm  answered  with  a  very  eager 
"  Yes."  He  did  not  observe  that  his  Highness,  without 
waiting  for  the  answer,  was  already  on  the  point  of 
turning  round  to  some  one  else :  he  fixed  upon  him,  on 
the  contrary,  almost  stepping  in  his  way,  and  proceeded 
to  declare  that  he  valued  the  French  theatre  very 
highly,  and  read  the  works  of  their  great  masters  with 
delight ;  particularly  he  had  learned  mth  true  joy  that 
his  Highness  did  complete  justice  to  the  great  talents 
of  Eacine.  "  I  can  easily  conceive,"  continued  he, "  how 
people  of  high  breeding  and  exalted  rank  must  value 
a  poet  who  has  painted  so  excellently  and  so  truly  the 
circumstances  of  their  lofty  station.  Corneille,  if  I 
may  say  so,  has  delineated  great  men ;  Eacine,  men  of 
eminent  rank.  In  reading  his  plays,  I  can  always 
figure  to  myself  the  poet  as  living  at  a  splendid  court, 
with  a  great  king  before  his  eyes,  in  constant  inter- 


220  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

course  with  the  most  distinguished  persons,  and  pene- 
trating into  the  secrets  of  human  nature,  as  it  works 
concealed  behind  the  gorgeous  tapestry  of  palaces. 
When  I  study  his  '  Britannicus,'  his  '  Berenice,'  it 
seems  as  if  I  were  transported  in  person  to  the  court, 
were  initiated  into  the  great  and  the  little,  in  the 
habitations  of  these  earthly  gods :  through  the  fine  and 
delicate  organs  of  my  author,  I  see  kings  whom  a 
nation  adores,  courtiers  whom  thousands  envy,  in  their 
natural  forms,  with  their  failings  and  their  pains.  The 
anecdote  of  Eacine's  dying  of  a  broken  heart,  because 
Louis  Fourteenth  would  no  longer  attend  to  him,  and 
had  shown  him  his  dissatisfaction,  is  to  me  the  key  to 
all  his  works.  It  was  impossible  that  a  poet  of  his 
talents,  whose  life  and  death  depended  on  the  looks  of 
a  king,  should  not  write  such  works  as  a  king  and  a 
prince  might  applaud." 

Jarno  had  stepped  near,  and  was  listening  with 
astonishment.  The  prince,  who  had  made  no  answer, 
and  had  only  shown  his  approbation  by  an  assenting 
look,  now  turned  aside ;  though  Wilhelm,  who  did  not 
know  that  it  was  contrary  to  etiquette  to  continue  a 
discussion  under  such  cu'cumstances,  and  exhaust  a 
subject,  would  gladly  have  spoken  more,  and  convinced 
the  prince  that  he  had  not  read  his  favourite  poet  with- 
out sensibility  and  profit. 

"  Have  you  never,"  said  Jarno,  taking  him  aside, 
"  read  one  of  Shakespeare's  plays  ? " 

"  No,"  replied  Wilhelm :  "  since  the  time  when  they 
became  more  known  in  Germany,  I  have  myself  grown 
unacquainted  with  the  theatre  ;  and  I  know  not  whether 
I  should  now  rejoice  that  an  old  taste,  and  occupation 
of  my  youth,  has  been  by  chance  renewed.  In  the 
meantime,  all  I  have  heard  of  these  plays  has  excited 
no  wish  to  become  acquainted  with  such  extraordinary 
monsters,  which  appear  to  set  probability  and  dignity 
alike  at  defiance." 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  221 

"  I  would  advise  you,"  said  the  other,  "  to  make  a 
trial,  notwithstanding :  it  can  do  one  no  harm  to 
look  at  what  is  extraordinary  with  one's  own  eyes.  I 
will  lend  you  a  volume  or  two ;  and  you  cannot  better 
spend  your  time,  than  by  casting  everything  aside,  and 
retiring  to  the  solitude  of  your  old  habitation,  to  look 
into  the  magic-lantern  of  that  unknown  world.  It  is 
sinful  of  you  to  waste  your  hours  in  dressing  out  these 
apes  to  look  more  human,  and  teaching  dogs  to  dance. 
One  thing  only  I  require,  —  you  must  not  cavil  at  the 
form :  the  rest  I  can  leave  to  your  own  good  sense  and 
feeling." 

The  horses  were  standing  at  the  door ;  and  Jarno 
mounted  with  some  other  cavaliers,  to  go  and  hunt. 
Wilhelm  looked  after  him  with  sadness.  He  would 
fain  have  spoken  much  with  this  man,  who,  though  in 
a  harsh,  unfriendly  way,  gave  him  new  ideas,  —  ideas 
he  had  need  of. 

Oftentimes  a  man,  when  approaching  some  develop- 
ment of  his  powers,  capacities,  and  conceptions,  gets 
into  a  perplexity,  from  which  a  prudent  friend  might 
easily  deliver  him.  He  resembles  a  traveller  who,  at 
but  a  short  distance  from  the  inn  he  is  to  rest  at,  falls 
into  the  water :  were  any  one  to  catch  him  then,  and 
pull  him  to  the  bank,  with  one  good  wetting  it  were 
over;  whereas,  though  he  struggles  out  himself,  it  is 
often  at  the  side  where  he  tumbled  in ;  and  he  has  to 
make  a  wide  and  dreary  circuit  before  reaching  his 
appointed  object. 

Wilhelm  now  began  to  have  an  inkling  that  things 
went  forward  in  the  world  differently  from  what  he  had 
supposed.  He  now  viewed  close  at  hand  the  solemn 
and  imposing  life  of  the  great  and  distinguished,  and 
wondered  at  the  easy  dignity  which  they  contrived  to 
give  it.  An  army  on  its  march,  a  princely  hero  at  the 
head  of  it,  such  a  multitude  of  cooperating  warriors, 
such  a  multitude  of  crowding  worshippers,  exalted  his 


222  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

imagination.  In  this  mood  lie  received  the  promised 
books ;  and  erelong,  as  may  be  easily  supposed,  the 
stream  of  that  mighty  genius  laid  hold  of  him,  and  led 
him  down  to  a  shoreless  ocean,  where  he  soon  com- 
pletely forgot  and  lost  himself. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

The  connection  between  the  baron  and  the  actors 
had  suffered  various  changes  since  the  arrival  of  the 
latter.  At  the  commencement  it  had  been  productive 
of  great  satisfaction  to  both  parties.  As  the  baron  for 
the  first  time  in  his  life  now  saw  one  of  those  plays, 
with  which  he  had  already  gi-aced  a  private  theatre, 
put  into  the  hands  of  real  actors,  and  in  the  fair  way 
for  a  decent  exhibition,  he  showed  the  benignest  humour 
in  the  world.  He  was  liberal  in  gifts :  he  bought  little 
presents  for  the  actresses  from  every  millinery  hawker, 
and  contrived  to  send  over  many  an  odd  bottle  of 
champagne  to  the  actors.  In  return  for  all  this,  our 
company  took  every  sort  of  trouble  with  his  play ;  and 
Wilhelm  spared  no  diligence  in  learning,  with  extreme 
correctness,  the  sublime  speeches  of  that  very  eminent 
hero,  whose  part  had  fallen  to  his  share. 

But,  in  spite  of  all  these  kind  reciprocities,  some 
clouds  by  degrees  arose  between  the  players  and  their 
patron.  The  baron's  preferences  for  certain  actors 
became  daily  more  observable:  this  of  necessity  cha- 
grined the  rest.  He  exalted  his  favourites  quite  exclu- 
sively, and  thus,  of  course,  introduced  disunion  and 
jealousy  among  the  company.  Melina,  without  skill  to 
help  himself  in  dubious  junctures,  felt  his  situation 
very  vexing.  The  persons  eulogised  accepted  of  their 
praise,  without  being  singularly  thankful  for  it ;  while 
the  neglected  gentlemen  showed  traces  of  their  spleen 
by  a  thousand  methods,  and  constantly  found  means  to 
make  it  very  disagreeable  for  their  once  much-honoured 
patron  to  appear  among  them.     Their  spite  received  no 

223 


224  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

little  nourishment  from  a  certain  poem,  by  an  unknown 
author,  which  made  a  great  sensation  in  the  castle. 
Previously  to  this  the  baron's  intercourse  with  the 
company  had  given  rise  to  many  little  strokes  of  merri- 
ment ;  several  stories  had  been  raised  about  him  ;  certain 
little  incidents,  adorned  with  suitable  additions,  and 
presented  in  the  proper  hght,  had  been  talked  of,  and 
made  the  subject  of  much  bantering  and  laughter.  At 
last  it  began  to  be  said  that  a  certain  rivalry  of  trade 
was  arising  between  him  and  some  of  the  actors,  who 
also  looked  upon  themselves  as  writers.  The  poem  we 
spoke  of  was  founded  upon  this  report :  it  ran  as 
follows : 

"  Lord  Baron,  I,  poor  devil,  own 

With  envy,  you  your  rank  and  state  ; 
Your  station,  too,  so  near  the  throne  ; 

Of  heirs  your  possessions  great ; 
Your  father's  seat,  with  walls  and  mounds, 
His  game-preserves,  and  hunting-grounds. 

<'  While  me,  poor  devil,  it  appears. 

Lord  Baron,  you  with  envy  view, 
Since  Nature,  from  my  early  years, 

Has  held  me  like  a  mother  true, 
With  heart  and  head  both  light,  I  poor, 
But  no  poor  wight  grew,  to  be  sure. 

"  My  dear  Lord  Baron,  now  to  me 

It  seems,  we  well  alone  should  let, 
That  you  your  father's  son  still  be, 
And  I  remain  my  mother's  pet : 
Let's  free  from  envy  live,  and  hate  ; 
Nor  let's  desire  each  other's  title  : 
No  place  you  on  Parnassus  great, 
No  noble  rank  I  in  requital." 

—  Editor'' s  Version. 

Upon  this  poem,  which  various  persons  were  pos- 
sessed of,  in  copies  scarcely  legible,  opinions  were 
exceedingly  divided.     But  who  the  author  was,  no  one 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  225 

could  guess ;  and,  as  some  began  to  draw  a  spiteful 
mirth  from  it,  our  friend  expressed  himself  against  it 
very  keenly. 

"  We  Germans,"  he  exclaimed,  "  deserve  to  have  our 
Muses  still  continue  in  the  low  contempt  wherein  they 
have  languished  so  long ;  since  we  cannot  value  men 
of  rank  who  take  a  share  in  our  literature,  no  matter 
how !  Birth,  rank,  and  fortune  are  no  wise  incom- 
patible with  genius  and  taste ;  as  foreign  nations,  reck- 
oning among  their  best  minds  a  gi-eat  number  of 
noblemen,  can  fully  testify.  Hitherto,  indeed,  it  has 
been  rare  in  Germany  for  men  of  high  station  to  devote 
themselves  to  science ;  hitherto  few  famous  names 
have  become  more  famous  by  their  love  of  art  and 
learning ;  while  many,  on  the  other  hand,  have 
mounted  out  of  darkness  to  distinction,  and  risen 
hke  unknown  stars  on  the  horizon.  Yet  such  will 
not  always  be  the  case ;  and  I  greatly  err,  if  the  first 
classes  oi  the  nation  are  not  even  now  in  the  way  of 
also  employing  their  advantages  to  earn  the  fairest 
laurels  of  the  Muses,  at  no  distant  date.  Nothing, 
therefore,  grieves  me  more  than  to  see  the  burgher 
jeering  at  the  noble  who  can  value  literature ;  nay, 
even  men  of  rank  themselves,  with  inconsiderate 
caprice,  maliciously  scaring  off  their  equal  from  a  path 
where  honour  and  contentment  wait  on  all." 

Apparently  this  latter  observation  pointed  at  the 
count,  of  whom  Wilhelm  had  heard  that  he  liked  the 
poem  very  much.  In  truth,  this  nobleman,  accus- 
tomed to  rally  the  baron  in  his  own  peculiar  way,  was 
extremely  glad  of  such  an  opportunity  to  plague  his 
kinsman  more  effectually.  As  to  who  the  writer  of 
the  squib  might  be,  each  formed  his  own  hypothesis ; 
and  the  count,  never  willing  that  another  should  sur- 
pass him  in  acuteness,  fell  upon  a  thought,  which,  in  a 
short  time,  he  would  have  sworn  to  the  truth  of.  The 
verses  could  be  written,  he  believed,  by  no  one  but  his 


226  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

Pedant,  who  was  a  very  shrewd  knave,  and  in  whom 
for  a  long  while,  he  had  noticed  some  touches  of  poetic 
genius.  By  way  of  proper  treat,  he  therefore  caused 
the  Pedant  one  morning  to  be  sent  for,  and  made  him 
read  the  poem,  in  his  own  manner,  in  presence  of  the 
countess,  the  baroness,  and  Jarno,  —  a  service  he  was 
paid  for  by  applauses,  praises,  and  a  present ;  and,  on 
the  count's  inquiring  if  he  had  not  still  some  other 
poems  of  an  earlier  time,  he  cunningly  contrived  to 
evade  the  question.  Thus  did  the  Pedant  get  invested 
with  the  reputation  of  a  poet  and  a  wit,  and,  in  the 
eyes  of  the  baron's  friends,  of  a  pasquinader  and  a 
bad-hearted  man.  Prom  that  period,  play  as  he  might, 
the  count  applauded  him  w^th  greater  zeal  than  ever ; 
so  that  the  poor  wight  grew  at  last  inflated  till  he 
nearly  lost  his  senses,  and  began  to  meditate  having 
a  chamber  in  the  castle,  like  Philina. 

Had  this  project  been  fulfilled  at  once,  a  great 
mishap  might  have  been  spared  him.  As  he  was 
returning  late  one  evening  from  the  castle,  groping 
about  in  the  dark,  narrow  way,  he  was  suddenly  laid 
hold  of,  and  kept  on  the  spot  by  some  persons,  w^hile 
some  others  rained  a  shower  of  blows  upon  him,  and 
battered  him  so  stoutly,  that  in  a  few  seconds  he  was 
lying  almost  dead  upon  the  place,  and  could  not  with- 
out difficulty  crawl  in  to  his  companions.  These, 
indignant  as  they  seemed  to  be  at  such  an  outrage, 
felt  their  secret  joy  in  the  adventure :  they  could 
hardly  keep  from  laughing,  at  seeing  him  so  thoroughly 
curried,  and  his  new  brown  coat  bedusted  through  and 
through,  and  bedaubed  with  white,  as  if  he  had  had  to 
do  with  millers. 

The  count,  who  soon  got  notice  of  the  business, 
broke  into  a  boundless  rage.  He  treated  this  act  as 
the  most  heinous  crime,  called  it  an  infringement  of 
the  hurgfried,  or  peace  of  the  castle,  and  caused  his 
judge  to  make  the   strictest  inquisition  touching  it. 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  227 

The  whited  coat,  it  was  imagined,  would  afford  a  lead- 
ing proof.  Every  creature  that  possibly  could  have 
the  smallest  trade  with  flower  or  powder  in  the  castle 
was  submitted  to  investigation,  but  in  vain. 

The  baron  solemnly  protested  on  his  honour,  that 
although  this  sort  of  jesting  had  considerably  dis- 
pleased him,  and  the  conduct  of  his  lordship  the 
count  had  not  been  the  friendliest,  yet  he  had  got 
over  the  affair ;  and  with  respect  to  the  misfortune 
which  had  come  upon  the  poet,  or  pasquinader,  or 
whatsoever  his  title  might  be,  he  knew  absolutely 
nothing,  and  had  not  the  most  remote  concern  in  it. 

The  operations  of  the  strangers,  and  the  general 
commotion  of  the  house,  soon  effaced  all  recollection 
of  the  matter ;  and  so,  without  redress,  the  unlucky 
favourite  had  to  pay  dear  for  the  satisfaction  of  plum- 
ing himself,  a  short  while,  in  feathers  not  his  own. 

Our  troop,  regularly  acting  every  night,  and  on  the 
whole  very  decently  treated,  now  began  to  make  more 
clamorous  demands,  the  better  they  were  dealt  with. 
Erelong  their  victuals,  drink,  attendance,  lodging,  grew 
inadequate ;  and  they  called  upon  the  baron,  their  pro- 
tector, to  provide  more  liberally  for  them,  and  at  last 
make  good  those  promises  of  comfortable  entertain- 
ment, which  he  had  been  giving  them  so  long.  Their 
complaints  grew  louder,  and  the  efforts  of  our  friend 
to  still  them  more  and  more  abortive. 

Meanwhile,  excepting  in  rehearsals  and  hours  of 
acting,  Wilhelm  scarcely  ever  came  abroad.  Shut  up 
in  one  of  the  remotest  chambers,  to  which  Mignon 
and  the  harper  alone  had  free  access,  he  lived  and 
moved  in  the  Shakespearian  world,  feeling  or  knowing 
nothing  but  the  movements  of  his  own  mind. 

We  have  heard  of  some  enchanter  summoning,  by 
magic  formulas,  a  vast  multitude  of  spiritual  shapes 
into  his  cell.  The  conjurations  are  so  powerful  that 
the  whole  space  of  the  apartment  is  quickly  full ;  and 


228  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

the  spirits,  crowding  on  to  the  verge  of  the  little  circle 
which  they  must  not  pass,  around  this,  and  above  the 
master's  head,  keep  increasing  in  number,  and  ever 
whirling  in  perpetual  transformation.  Every  corner 
is  crammed,  every  crevice  is  possessed.  Embryos 
expand  themselves,  and  giant  forms  contract  into  the 
size  of  nuts.  Unhappily  the  black-artist  has  forgot 
the  counterword,  with  which  he  might  command  this 
flood  of  sprites  again  to  ebb. 

So  sat  Wilhelm  in  his  privacy :  with  unknown 
movements,  a  thousand  feelings  and  capacities  awoke 
in  him,  of  which  he  formerly  had  neither  notion  nor 
anticipation.  Nothing  could  allure  him  from  this 
state :  he  was  vexed  and  restless  if  any  one  presumed 
to  come  to  him,  and  talk  of  news  or  what  was  passing 
in  the  world. 

Accordingly,  he  scarce  took  notice  of  the  circum- 
stance, when  told  that  a  judicial  sentence  was  about 
being  executed  in  the  castle-yard,  —  the  flogging  of  a 
boy,  who  had  incurred  suspicions  of  nocturnal  house- 
breaking, and  who,  as  he  wore  a  peruke-maker's  coat, 
had  most  probably  been  one  of  the  assaulters  of  the 
Pedant.  The  boy  indeed,  it  seemed,  denied  most 
obstinately;  so  that  they  could  not  inflict  a  formal 
punishment,  but  meant  to  give  him  a  slight  memorial 
as  a  vagabond,  and  send  him  about  his  business ;  he 
having  prowled  about  the  neighbourhood  for  several 
days,  lain  at  night  in  the  mills,  and  at  last  clapped  a 
ladder  to  the  garden  wall,  and  mounted  over  by  it. 

Our  friend  saw  nothing  very  strange  in  the  trans- 
action, and  was  dismissing  it  altogether,  when  Mignon 
came  running  in,  and  assured  him  that  the  criminal 
was  Friedrich,  who,  since  the  rencounter  with  the 
Stallmeister,  had  vanished  from  the  company,  and  not 
again  been  heard  of. 

Feeling  an  interest  in  the  boy,  Wilhelm  hastily 
arose :  he  found,  in  the   courtyard  of  the  castle,  the 


MEISTER'S  APPRENTICESHIP  229 

preparations  almost  finished.  The  count  loved  solem- 
nity on  these  occasions.  The  boy  being  now  led  out, 
our  friend  stepped  forward,  and  entreated  for  delay,  as 
he  knew  the  boy,  and  had  various  things  to  say  which 
might,  perhaps,  throw  light  on  the  affair.  He  had 
difficulty  in  succeeding,  notwithstanding  all  his  state- 
ments :  at  length,  however,  he  did  get  permission  to 
speak  with  the  culprit  in  private.  Friedrich  averred, 
that,  concerning  the  assault  in  which  the  Pedant  had 
been  used  so  harshly,  he  knew  nothing  whatever.  He 
had  merely  been  lurking  about,  and  had  come  in  at 
night  to  see  Phihna,  whose  room  he  had  discovered, 
and  would  certainly  have  reached,  had  he  not  been 
taken  by  the  way. 

For  the  credit  of  the  company,  Wilhelm  felt  de- 
sirous not  to  have  the  truth  of  his  adventure  pubhshed. 
He  hastened  to  the  Stalhneister :  he  begged  him  to 
show  favour,  and,  with  his  intimate  knowledge  of  men 
and  things  about  the  castle,  to  find  some  means  of 
quashing  the  affair,  and  dismissing  the  boy. 

This  whimsical  gentleman,  by  Wilhelm's  help,  in- 
vented a  little  story,  —  how  the  boy  had  belonged  to 
the  troop,  had  run  away  from  it,  but  soon  wished 
to  get  back,  and  be  received  again  into  his  place ;  how 
he  had  accordingly  been  trying  in  the  night  to  come 
at  certain  of  his  well-wishers,  and  solicit  their  assist- 
ance. It  was  testified  by  others  that  his  former  be- 
haviour had  been  good :  the  ladies  put  their  hands 
to  the  work,  and  Friedrich  was  let  go. 

Wilhelm  took  him  in,  —  a  third  person  in  that 
strange  family,  which  for  some  time  he  had  looked 
on  as  his  own.  The  old  man  and  httle  Mignon  re- 
ceived the  returning  wanderer  kindly ;  and  all  the 
three  combined  to  serve  their  friend  and  guardian 
with  attention,  and  procure  him  all  the  pleasure  in 
their  power. 


CHAPTER   X. 

Philina  now  succeeded  in  insinuating  further  every- 
day into  the  favour  of  the  ladies.  Wlienever  they 
were  by  themselves,  she  was  wont  to  lead  the  con* 
versation  on  the  men  whom  they  saw  about  the  castle ; 
and  our  friend  was  not  the  last  or  least  important  that 
engaged  them.  The  cunning  girl  was  well  aware  that 
he  had  made  a  deep  impression  on  the  countess :  she 
therefore  talked  about  him  often,  telling  much  that 
she  knew  or  did  not  know,  only  taking  care  to  speak 
of  nothing  that  might  be  interpreted  against  him; 
eulogising,  on  the  contrary,  his  nobleness  of  mind,  his 
generosity,  and,  more  than  all,  his  modest  and  respect- 
ful conduct  to  the  fair  sex.  To  all  inquiries  made 
about  him  she  replied  with  equal  prudence ;  and  the 
baroness,  when  she  observed  the  growing  inclination 
of  her  amiable  friend,  was  likewise  very  glad  at  the 
discovery.  Her  own  intrigues  with  several  men,  espe- 
cially of  late  with  Jarno,  had  not  remained  hidden 
from  the  countess,  whose  pure  soul  could  not  look 
upon  such  levities  without  disapprobation,  and  meek, 
though  earnest,  censures. 

In  this  way  both  Philina  and  the  baroness  were 
personally  interested  in  establishing  a  closer  inter- 
course between  the  countess  and  our  friend.  Philina 
hoped,  moreover,  that  there  would  occur  some  oppor- 
tunity when  she  might  once  more  labour  for  herself, 
and,  if  possible,  get  back  the  favour  of  the  young  man 
she  had  lost. 

One  day  his  lordship,  with  his  guests,  had  ridden 
out  to  hunt ;  and  their  return  was  not  expected  till  the 

230 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  231 

morrow.  On  this  the  baroness  devised  a  frolic,  which 
was  altogether  in  her  way,  for  she  loved  disguises,  and, 
in  order  to  surprise  her  friends,  would  suddenly  appear 
among  them  as  a  peasant  girl  at  one  time,  at  another 
as  a  page,  at  another  as  a  hunter's  boy.  By  which 
means  she  almost  gave  herself  the  air  of  a  little  fairy, 
that  is  present  everywhere,  and  exactly  in  the  place 
where  it  is  least  expected.  Nothing  could  exceed  this 
lady's  joy,  if,  without  being  recognised,  she  could  con- 
trive to  wait  upon  the  company  for  some  time  as  a 
servant,  or  mix  among  them  anyhow,  and  then. at  last 
in  some  sportful  way  disclose  herself. 

Toward  night  she  sent  for  Wilhelm  to  her  chamber, 
and,  happening  to  have  something  else  to  do  just  then, 
left  PhiHna  to  receive  and  prepare  him. 

He  arrived,  and  found  to  his  surprise,  not  the 
honourable  lady,  but  the  giddy  gu'l,  in  the  room. 
She  received  him  with  a  certain  dignified  openness  of 
manner,  which  she  had  of  late  been  practising,  and 
so  constrained  him  likewise  to  be  courteous. 

At  first  she  ralUed  him  in  general  on  the  good 
fortune  which  pursued  him  everywhere,  and  which, 
as  she  could  not  but  see,  had  led  him  hither  in  the 
present  case.  Then  she  delicately  set  before  him  the 
treatment  with  which  of  late  he  had  afflicted  her ; 
she  blamed  and  upbraided  herself ;  confessed  that  she 
had  but  too  well  deserved  such  punishment ;  described 
with  the  greatest  candour  what  she  called  her  former 
situation ;  adding,  that  she  would  despise  herself,  if  she 
were  not  capable  of  altering,  and  making  herself 
worthy  of  his  friendship. 

Wilhelm  was  struck  with  this  oration.  He  had  too 
little  knowledge  of  the  world  to  understand  that  per- 
sons quite  unstable,  and  incapable  of  all  improvement, 
frequently  accuse  themselves  in  the  bitterest  manner, 
confessing  and  deploring  their  faults  with  extreme 
ingenuousness,  though  they  possess  not  the  smallest 


232  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

power  within  them  to  retire  from  that  course,  along 
which  the  irresistible  tendency  of  their  nature  is  drag- 
ging them  forward.  Accordingly,  he  could  not  find 
in  his  heart  to  behave  inexorably  to  the  gi-aceful 
sinner :  he  entered  into  conversation,  and  learned  from 
her  the  project  of  a  singular  disguisement,  wherewith 
it  was  intended  to  surprise  the  countess. 

He  found  some  room  for  hesitation  here,  nor  did  he 
hide  his  scruples  from  Phihna :  but  the  baroness,  enter- 
ing at  this  moment,  left  him  not  an  instant  for  reflec- 
tion ;  she  hurried  him  away  with  her,  declaring  it  was 
just  the  proper  hour. 

It  was  now  grown  darl:.  She  took  him  to  the 
count's  wardrobe,  made  him  change  his  own  coat  with 
his  lordship's  silk  nightgown,  and  put  the  cap  with 
red  trimmings  on  his  head.  She  then  led  him  forward 
to  the  cabinet ;  and  bidding  him  sit  down  upon  the 
large  chair,  and  take  a  book,  she  lit  the  Argand  lamp 
which  stood  before  him,  and  showed  him  what  he  was 
to  do,  and  what  kind  of  part  he  had  to  play. 

They  would  inform  the  countess,  she  said,  of  her 
husband's  unexpected  arrival,  and  that  he  was  in  very 
bad  humour.  The  countess  would  come  in,  walk  up 
and  down  the  room  once  or  twice,  then  place  herself 
beside  the  back  of  his  chair,  lay  her  arm  upon  his 
shoulder,  and  speak  a  few  words.  He  was  to  play  the 
cross  husband  as  long  and  as  well  as  possible ;  and, 
when  obliged  to  disclose  himself,  he  must  behave 
politely,  handsomely,  and  gallantly. 

Wilhelm  was  left  sitting,  restlessly  enough,  in  this 
singular  mask.  The  proposal  had  come  upon  him  by 
surprise :  the  execution  of  it  got  the  start  of  the 
deliberation.  The  baroness  had  vanished  from  the 
room,  before  he  saw  how  dangerous  the  post  was 
which  he  had  engaged  to  fill.  He  could  not  deny 
that  the  beauty,  the  youth,  the  gracefulness,  of  the 
countess  had  made  some  impression  on  him :  but  his 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  233 

nature  was  entirely  averse  to  all  empty  gallantry,  and 
his  principles  forbade  any  thought  of  more  serious 
enterprises ;  so  that  his  perplexity  at  this  moment  was 
in  truth  extreme.  The  fear  of  displeasing  the  count- 
ess, and  that  of  pleasing  her  too  well,  were  equally 
busy  in  his  mind. 

Every  female  charm  that  had  ever  acted  on  him, 
now  showed  itself  again  to  his  imagination.  Mariana 
rose  before  him  in  her  white  morning-gown,  and  en- 
treated his  remembrance.  Philina's  lovehuess,  her 
beautiful  hair,  her  insinuating  blandishments,  had 
again  become  attractive  by  her  late  presence.  Yet 
all  this  retired  as  if  behind  the  veil  of  distance,  when 
he  figured  to  himself  the  noble,  blooming  countess, 
whose  arm  in  a  few  minutes  he  would  feel  upon  his 
neck,  whose  innocent  caresses  he  was  there  to  answer. 

The  strange  mode  in  which  he  was  to  be  delivered 
out  of  this  perplexity  he  certainly  did  not  anticipate. 
We  may  judge  of  his  astonishment,  nay,  his  terror, 
when  the  door  opened  behind  him ;  and,  at  the  first 
stolen  look  in  the  mirror,  he  quite  clearly  discerned 
the  count  coming  in  with  a  light  in  his  hand.  His 
doubt  what  he  should  do,  whether  he  -should  sit  still 
or  rise,  should  flee,  confess,  deny,  or  beg  forgiveness, 
lasted  but  a  few  instants.  The  count,  who  had  re- 
mained motionless  standing  in  the  door,  retired,  and 
shut  it  softly.  At  the  same  moment,  the  baroness 
sprang  forward  by  the  side  door,  extinguished  the 
lamp,  tore  Wilhelm  from  his  chair,  and  hurried  him 
with  her  into  the  closet.  Instantly  he  threw  off  the 
nightgown,  and  put  it  in  its  former  place.  The 
baroness  took  his  coat  under  her  arm,  and  hastened 
with  him  through  several  rooms,  passages,  and  parti- 
tions into  her  chamber,  where  "Wilhelm,  so  soon  as 
she  recovered  breath,  was  informed,  that  on  her  going 
to  the  countess,  and  dehvering  the  fictitious  intelli- 
gence about  her  husband's  arrival,  the  countess  had 


234  meister's  apprenticeship 

answered,  "  I  know  it  already :  what  can  have  hap- 
pened ?  I  saw  him  riding  in,  at  the  postern,  even 
now."  On  which  the  baroness,  in  an  excessive  panic, 
had  run  to  the  count's  chamber  to  give  warning. 

"  Unhappily  you  came  too  late ! "  said  Wilhelm. 
"  The  count  was  in  the  room  before  you,  and  saw 
me  sitting." 

"  And  recognised  you  ? " 

"  That  I  know  not.  He  was  looking  at  me  in  the 
glass,  as  I  at  him ;  and,  before  I  could  well  determine 
whether  it  was  he  or  a  spirit,  he  drew  back,  and  closed 
the  door  behind  him." 

The  anxiety  of  the  baroness  increased,  when  a 
servant  came  to  call  her,  signifying  that  the  count 
was  with  his  lady.  She  w^ent  with  no  light  heart, 
and  found  the  count  silent  and  thoughtful,  indeed, 
but  milder  and  kinder  in  his  words  than  usual.  She 
knew  not  what  to  think  of  it.  They  spoke  about  the 
incidents  of  the  chase,  and  the  causes  of  his  quick 
return.  The  conversation  soon  ran  out.  The  count 
became  taciturn ;  and  it  struck  the  baroness  particu- 
larly, when  he  asked  for  AYilhelm,  and  expressed  a 
wish  that  he  were  sent  for,  to  come  and  read 
something. 

Wilhelm,  who  had  now  dressed  himseK  in  the 
baroness's  chamber,  and  in  some  degree  recovered 
his  composure,  obeyed  the  order,  not  without  anxiety. 
The  count  gave  him  a  book,  out  of  which  he  read 
an  adventurous  tale,  very  little  at  his  ease.  His  voice 
had  a  certain  inconstancy  and  quivering  in  it,  which 
fortunately  corresponded  with  the  import  of  the  story. 
The  count  more  than  once  gave  kindly  tokens  of 
approval,  and  at  last  dismissed  our  friend,  with  praises 
of  his  exquisite  manner  of  reading. 


CHAPTEE   XI. 

WlLHELM  had  scarcely  read  one  or  two  of  Shake- 
speare's plays,  till  their  effect  on  him  became  so  strong 
that  he  could  go  no  farther.  His  whole  soul  was 
in  commotion.  He  sought  an  opportunity  to  speak 
with  Jarno ;  to  whom,  on  meeting  with  him,  he  ex- 
pressed his  boundless  gratitude  for  such  delicious 
entertainment. 

"  I  clearly  enough  foresaw,"  said  Jarno,  "  that  you 
would  not  remain  insensible  to  the  charms  of  the  most 
extraordinary  and  most  admirable  of  all  writers." 

"  Yes  ! "  exclaimed  our  friend  :  "  I  cannot  recollect 
that  any  book,  any  man,  any  incident  of  my  Hfe,  has 
produced  such  important  effects  on  me,  as  the  precious 
works  to  which  by  your  kindness  I  have  been  directed. 
They  seem  as  if  they  were  performances  of  some  celes- 
tial genius,  descending  among  men,  to  make  them, 
by  the  mildest  instructions,  acquainted  with  them- 
selves. They  are  no  fictions !  You  would  think,  while 
reading  them,  you  stood  before  the  unclosed  awful 
Books  of  Fate,  while  the  whirlwind  of  most  impas- 
sioned Hfe  was  howling  through  the  leaves,  and  tossing 
them  fiercely  to  and  fro.  The  strength  and  tenderness, 
the  power  and  peacefulness,  of  this  man,  have  so  aston- 
ished and  transported  me,  that  I  long  vehemently  for 
the  time  when  I  shall  have  it  in  my  power  to  read 
farther." 

"  Bravo ! "  said  Jarno,  holding  out  his  hand,  and 
squeezing  our  friend's.  "  This  is  as  it  should  be ! 
And  the  consequences,  which  I  hope  for,  will  likewise 
surely  follow." 

235 


236  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

"  I  wish "  said  Wilhelm,  "  I  could  but  disclose  to 
you  all  that  is  going  on  within  me  even  now.  All 
the  anticipations  I  have  ever  had  regarding  man  and 
his  destiny,  which  have  accompanied  me  from  youth 
upwards,  often  unobserved  by  myself,  I  find  developed 
and  fulfilled  in  Shakespeare's  writings.  It  seems  as  if 
he  cleared  vip  every  one  of  our  enigmas  to  us,  though 
we  cannot  say,  Here  or  there  is  the  word  of  solution. 
His  men  appear  like  natural  men,  and  yet  they  are 
not.  These,  the  most  mysterious  and  complex  produc- 
tions of  creation,  here  act  before  us  as  if  they  were 
watches,  whose  dial-plates  and  cases  were  of  crystal, 
which  pointed  out,  according  to  their  use,  the  course 
of  the  hours  and  minutes;  while,  at  the  same  time, 
you  could  discern  the  combination  of  wheels  and 
springs  that  turned  them.  The  few  glances  I  have 
cast  over  Shakespeare's  world  incite  me,  more  than 
anything  beside,  to  quicken  my  footsteps  forward  into 
the  actual  world,  to  mingle  in  the  flood  of  destinies 
that  is  suspended  over  it,  and  at  length,  if  I  shall 
prosper,  to  draw  a  few  cups  from  the  great  ocean 
of  true  nature,  and  to  distribute  them  from  off  the 
stage  among  the  thirsting  people  of  my  native  land." 

"  I  feel  delighted  with  the  temper  of  mind  in  which 
I  now  behold  you,"  answered  Jarno,  laying  his  hand 
upon  the  shoulder  of  the  excited  youth :  "  renounce  not 
the  purpose  of  embarking  in  active  life.  Make  haste 
to  employ  with  alacrity  the  years  that  are  granted 
you.  If  I  can  serve  you,  I  will  with  all  my  heart. 
As  yet  I  have  not  asked  you  how  you  came  into  this 
troop,  for  which  you  certainly  were  neither  born  nor 
bred.  So  much  I  hope  and  see,  —  you  long  to  be  out 
of  it.  I  know  nothing  of  your  parentage,  of  your 
domestic  circumstances :  consider  what  you  shall  con- 
fide to  me.  Thus  much  only  I  can  say :  the  times  of 
war  we  hve  in  may  produce  quick  turns  of  fortune ; 
did   you   incHne  devoting  your  strength    and  talents 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  237 

to  our  service,  not  fearing  labour,  and,  if  need  ^Yere, 
danger,  I  might  even  now  have  an  opportunity  to  put 
you  in  a  situation,  which  you  would  not  afterward 
be  sorry  to  have  filled  for  a  time."  Wilhelm  could 
not  sufficiently  express  his  gratitude :  he  was  ready 
to  impart  to  his  friend  and  patron  the  whole  history 
of  his  life. 

In  the  course  of  this  conversation,  they  had  wan- 
dered far  into  the  park,  and  at  last  came  upon  the 
highway  that  crossed  it.  Jarno  stood  silent  for  a 
moment,  and  then  said,  "Dehberate  on  my  proposal, 
determine,  give  me  your  answer  in  a  few  days,  and 
then  let  me  have  the  narrative  you  mean  to  trust  me 
with.  I  assure  you,  it  has  all  along  to  me  seemed 
quite  incomprehensible  how  you  ever  could  have  any- 
thing to  do  with  such  a  class  of  people.  I  have  often 
thought  with  spleen  and  disgust,  how,  in  order  to  gain 
a  paltry  living,  you  must  fix  your  heart  on  a  wandering 
ballad-monger,  and  a  silly  mongrel,  neither  male  nor 
female." 

He  had  not  yet  concluded,  when  an  officer  on  horse- 
back came  hastily  along ;  a  gToom  following  him  with 
a  led  horse.  Jarno  shouted  a  warm  salutation  to 
him.  The  officer  sprang  from  his  horse;  Jarno  and 
he  embraced  and  talked  together ;  while  Wilhelm, 
confounded  at  the  last  expressions  of  his  warlike  friend, 
stood  thoughtfully  at  a  side.  Jarno  turned  over  some 
papers  which  the  stranger  had  delivered  to  him ;  while 
the  latter  came  to  Wilhelm,  held  out  his  hand,  and 
said  with  emphasis,  "  I  find  you  in  worthy  company : 
follow  the  counsel  of  your  friend,  and,  by  doing  so, 
accomplish  likewise  the  desire  of  an  unknown  man, 
who  takes  a  genuine  interest  in  you."  So  saying,  he 
embraced  Wilhelm,  and  pressed  him  cordially  to  his 
breast.  At  the  same  instant  Jarno  advanced,  and 
said  to  the  stranger,  "  It  is  best  that  I  ride  on  with 
you :  by  this  means  you  may  get  the  necessary  orders, 


238  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

and  set  out  again  before  night."  Both  then  leaped 
into  their  saddles,  and  left  our  astonished  friend  to 
his  own  reflections. 

Jarno's  last  words  were  still  ringing  in  his  ears. 
It  galled  him  to  see  the  two  human  beings  that  had 
most  innocently  won  his  affections  so  grievously  dispar- 
aged by  a  man  whom  he  honoured  so  much.  The 
strange  embracing  of  the  officer,  whom  he  knew  not,  made 
but  a  shght  impression  on  him;  it  occupied  his  curiosity 
and  his  imagination  for  a  moment :  but  Jarno's  speech 
had  cut  him  to  the  heart ;  he  was  deeply  hurt  by  it : 
and  now,  in  his  way  homewards,  he  broke  out  into 
reproaches  against  himself,  that  he  should  for  a  single 
instant  have  mistaken  or  forgotten  the  unfeeling  cold- 
ness of  Jarno,  which  looked  out  from  his  very  eyes, 
and  spoke  in  all  his  gestures.  "  No  ! "  exclaimed  he, 
"thou  conceivest,  dead-hearted  worldling,  that  thou 
canst  be  a  friend !  All  that  thou  hast  power  to  offer 
me  is  not  worth  the  sentiment  which  binds  me  to 
these  forlorn  beings.  How  fortunate  that  I  have 
discovered  in  time  what  I  had  to  expect  from  thee ! " 

Mignon  came  to  meet  him  as  he  entered :  he  clasped 
her  in  his  arms,  exclaiming,  "  Nothing,  nothing,  shall 
part  us,  thou  good  little  creature !  The  seeming  pru- 
dence of  the  world  shall  never  cause  me  to  forsake 
thee,  or  forget  what  I  owe  thee ! " 

The  child,  whose  warm  caresses  he  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  avoid,  rejoiced  with  all  her  heart  at  this 
unlooked-for  show  of  tenderness,  and  clung  so  fast  to 
him  that  he  had  some  difficulty  to  get  loose  from  her. 

From  this  period  he  kept  a  stricter  eye  on  Jarno's 
conduct :  many  parts  of  it  he  did  not  think  quite 
praiseworthy ;  nay,  several  things  came  out  which 
totally  displeased  him.  He  had  strong  suspicions,  for 
example,  that  the  verses  on  the  baron,  which  the 
poor  Pedant  had  so  dearly  paid  for,  were  composed  by 
Jarno.      And  as  the  latter,  in  Wilhelm's  presence,  had 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  239 

made  sport  of  the  adventure,  our  friend  thought  here 
was  certainly  a  symptom  of  a  most  corrupted  heart ; 
for  what  could  be  more  depraved  than  to  treat  a  guilt- 
less person,  whose  griefs  oneself  had  occasioned, 
with  jeering  and  mockery,  instead  of  trying  to  satisfy 
or  to  indemnify  him  ?  In  this  matter  Wilhelm  would 
himself  willingly  have  brought  about  reparation ;  and 
erelong  a  very  curious  accident  led  him  to  obtain  some 
traces  of  the  persons  concerned  in  that  nocturnal  out- 
rage. 

Hitherto  his  friends  had  contrived  to  keep  him  un- 
acquainted with  the  fact,  that  some  of  the  young 
officers  were  in  the  habit  of  passing  whole  nights  in 
merriment  and  jollity,  with  certain  actors  and  ac- 
tresses, in  the  lower  hall  of  the  old  castle.  One 
morning,  having  risen  early,  according  to  his  custom, 
he  happened  to  visit  this  chamber,  and  found  the 
gallant  gentlemen  just  in  the  act  of  performing  rather 
a  singular  operation.  They  had  mixed  a  bowl  of 
water  with  a  quantity  of  chalk,  and  were  plastering 
this  gruel  with  a  brush  upon  their  waistcoats  and 
pantaloons,  without  stripping ;  thus  very  expeditiously 
restoring  the  spotlessness  of  theh  apparel.  On  wit- 
nessing this  piece  of  ingenuity,  our  friend  was  at  once 
struck  with  the  recollection  of  the  poor  Pedant's  whited 
and  bedusted  coat :  his  suspicions  gathered  strength 
when  he  learned  that  some  relations  of  the  baron 
were  among  the  party. 

To  throw  some  light  on  his  doubts,  he  engaged  the 
youths  to  breakfast  with  him.  They  were  very  lively, 
and  told  a  multitude  of  pleasant  stories.  One  of  them 
especially,  who  for  a  time  had  been  on  the  recruiting- 
service,  was  loud  in  praising  the  craft  and  activity 
of  his  captain ;  who,  it  appeared,  understood  the  art  of 
alluring  men  of  all  kinds  toward  him,  and  overreach- 
ing every  one  by  the  deception  proper  for  him.  He 
circumstantially   described  how  several  young  people 


240  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

of  good  families  and  careful  education  had  been  coz- 
ened, by  playing  off  to  them  a  thousand  promises  of 
honour  and  preferment ;  and  he  heartily  laughed  at  the 
simpletons,  who  felt  so  gratified,  when  first  enlisted, 
at  the  thought  of  being  esteemed  and  introduced  to 
notice  by  so  reputable,  prudent,  bold,  and  munificent 
an  officer. 

Wilhelm  blessed  his  better  genius  for  having  drawn 
him  back  in  time  from  the  abyss  to  whose  brink  he 
had  approached  so  near.  Jarno  he  now  looked  upon 
as  nothing  better  than  a  crimp :  the  embrace  of  the 
stranger  officer  was  easily  explained.  He  viewed  the 
feelings  and  opinions  of  these  men  with  contempt  and 
disgust ;  from  that  moment  he  carefully  avoided  com- 
ing into  contact  with  any  one  that  wore  a  uniform; 
and,  when  he  heard  that  the  army  was  about  to  move 
its  quarters,  the  news  would  have  been  extremely  wel- 
come to  him,  if  he  had  not  feared,  that,  immediately 
on  its  departure,  he  himself  must  be  banished  from  the 
neighbourhood  of  his  lovely  friend,  perhaps  for  ever. 


CHAPTER  XIL 

Meanwhile  the  baroness  had  spent  several  days 
disquieted  by  anxious  fears  and  unsatisfied  curiosity. 
Since  the  late  adventure,  the  count's  demeanour  had 
been  altogether  an  enigma  to  her.  His  manner  was 
changed:  none  of  his  customary  jokes  were  to  be 
heard.  His  demands  on  the  company  and  the  servants 
had  very  much  abated.  Little  pedantry  or  imperious- 
ness  was  now  to  be  discerned  in  him ;  he  was  silent 
and  thoughtful,  yet  withal  he  seemed  composed  and 
placid';  in  short,  he  was  quite  another  man.  In  choos- 
ing the  books,  which  now  and  then  he  caused  to  be 
read  to  him,  those  of  a  serious,  often  a  religious,  cast, 
were  pitched  upon ;  and  the  baroness  lived  in  perpetual 
fright  lest,  beneath  this  apparent  serenity,  a  secret 
rancour  might  be  lurking, —  a  silent  purpose  to  revenge 
the  offence  he  had  so  accidentally  discovered.  She 
determined,  therefore,  to  make  Jarno  her  confidant ; 
and  this  the  more  freely,  as  that  gentleman  and  she 
already  stood  in  a  relation  to  each  other  where  it  is 
not  usual  to  be  very  cautious  in  keeping  secrets.  For 
some  time  Jarno  had  been  her  dearest  friend,  yet  they 
had  been  dexterous  enough  to  conceal  their  attachment 
and  joys  from  the  noisy  world  in  which  they  moved. 
To  the  countess  alone  this  new  romance  had  not 
remained  unknown ;  and  very  possibly  the  baroness 
might  wish  to  get  her  fair  friend  occupied  with  some 
similar  engagement,  and  thus  to  escape  the  silent 
reproaches  she  had  often  to  endure  from  that  noble- 
minded  woman. 

241 


242  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

Scarcely  had  the  baroness  related  the  occurrence  to 
her  lover,  when  he  cried  out  laughing,  "  To  a  certainty 
the  old  fool  believes  that  he  has  seen  his  ghost !  He 
dreads  that  the  vision  may  betoken  some  misfortune, 
perhaps  death,  to  him ;  and  so  he  is  become  quite  tame, 
as  all  half-men  do,  in  thinking  of  that  consummation 
which  no  one  has  escaped  or  will  escape.  Softly  a 
little !  As  I  hope  he  will  live  long  enough,  we  may 
now  train  him  at  least,  so  that  he  shall  not  again  give 
disturbance  to  his  wife  and  household." 

They  accordingly,  as  soon  as  any  opportunity 
occurred,  began  talking,  in  the  presence  of  the  count, 
about  warnings,  visions,  apparitions,  and  the  like. 
Jarno  played  the  skeptic,  the  baroness  likewise;  and 
they  carried  it  so  far,  that  his  lordship  at  last  took 
Jarno  aside,  reproved  him  for  his  fi-eethinking,  and 
produced  his  own  experience  to  prove  the  possibility, 
nay,  actual  occurrence,  of  such  preternatural  events. 
Jarno  affected  to  be  struck,  to  be  in  doubt,  and  finally 
to  be  convinced ;  but,  in  private  with  his  friend,  he 
made  himself  so  much  the  merrier  at  the  credulous 
weakling,  who  had  thus  been  cured  of  his  evil  habits 
by  a  bugbear,  but  who,  they  admitted,  still  deserved 
some  praise  for  expecting  dire  calamity,  or  death  itself, 
with  such  composure. 

"The  natural  result  which  the  present  apparition 
might  have  had,  would  possibly  have  ruffled  him  ! " 
exclaimed  the  baroness,  with  her  wonted  vivacity ;  to 
which,  when  anxiety  was  taken  from  her  heart,  she 
had  instantly  returned.  Jarno  was  richly  rewarded  ; 
and  the  two  contrived  fresh  projects  for  frightening  the 
count  still  further,  and  still  further  exciting  and  con- 
firming the  affection  of  the  countess  for  Wilhelm. 

With  this  intention,  the  whole  story  was  related  to 
the  countess.  She,  indeed,  expressed  her  displeasure 
at  such  conduct ;  but  from  that  time  she  became  more 
thoughtful,  and  in  peaceful  moments  seemed  to  be  con- 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  243 

sidering,  pursuing,  and  painting  out  that  scene  which 
had  been  prepared  for  her. 

The  preparations  now  going  forward  on  every  side 
left  no  room  for  doubt  that  the  armies  were  soon  to 
move  in  advance,  and  the  prince  at  the  same  time 
to  change  his  headquarters.  It  was  even  said  that  the 
count  intended  leaving  his  castle,  and  returning  to 
the  city.  Our  players  could  therefore,  without  diffi- 
culty, calculate  the  aspect  of  their  stars  ;  yet  none  of 
them,  except  Melina,  took  any  measures  in  conse- 
quence :  the  rest  strove  only  to  catch  as  much  enjoy- 
ment as  they  could  from  the  moment  that  was  passing 
over  them. 

Wilhelm,  in  the  meantime,  was  engaged  with  a 
pecuhar  task.  The  countess  had  required  from  him 
a  copy  of  his  writings,  and  he  looked  on  this  request 
as  the  noblest  recompense  for  his  labours. 

A  young  author,  who  has  not  yet  seen  himself  in 
print,  will,  in  such  a  case,  apply  no  ordinary  care  to 
provide  a  clear  and  beautiful  transcript  of  his  works. 
It  is  like  the  golden  age  of  authorship :  he  feels  trans- 
ported into  those  centuries  when  the  press  had  not 
inundated  the  world  with  so  many  useless  writings, 
when  none  but  excellent  performances  were  copied,  and 
kept  by  the  noblest  men ;  and  he  easily  admits  the 
illusion,  that  his  own  accurately  ruled  and  measured 
manuscript  may  itself  prove  an  excellent  performance, 
worthy  to  be  kept  and  valued  by  some  future  critic. 

The  prince  being  shortly  to  depart,  a  great  entertain- 
ment had  been  appointed  in  honour  of  him.  Many 
ladies  of  the  neighbourhood  were  invited,  and  the 
countess  had  dressed  betimes.  On  this  occasion  she 
had  taken  a  costlier  suit  than  usual.  Her  head-dress, 
and  the  decorations  of  her  hair,  were  more  exquisite  and 
studied:  she  wore  all  her  jewels.  The  baroness,  too, 
had  done  her  utmost  to  appear  with  becoming  taste 
and  splendour. 


244  MEISTER'S   APPRENTICESHIP 

Philina,  observing  that  both  ladies,  in  expectation  of 
their  guests,  felt  the  time  rather  tedious,  proposed 
to  send  for  Wilhelm,  who  was  wishing  to  present  his 
manuscript,  now  completed,  and  to  read  them  some 
other  little  pieces.  He  came,  and  on  his  entrance  was 
astonished  at  the  form  and  the  graces  of  the  countess, 
which  her  decorations  had  but  made  more  visible  and 
striking.  Being  ordered  by  the  ladies,  he  began  to 
read ;  but  with  so  much  absence  of  mind,  and  so 
badly,  that,  had  not  his  audience  been  excessively 
indulgent,  they  would  very  soon  have  dismissed  him. 

Every  time  he  looked  at  the  countess,  it  seemed  to 
him  as  if  a  spark  of  electric  fire  were  glancing  before 
his  eyes.  In  the  end  he  knew  not  where  to  find  the 
breath  he  wanted  for  his  reading.  The  countess  had 
always  pleased  him,  but  now  it  appeared  as  if  he 
never  had  beheld  a  being  so  perfect  and  so  lovely.  A 
thousand  thoughts  flitted  up  and  down  his  soul :  what 
follows  might  be  nearly  their  substance. 

"How  foolish  is  it  in  so  many  poets,  and  men  of 
sentiment  as  they  are  called,  to  make  war  on  pomp  and 
decoration;  requiring  that  women  of  all  ranks  should 
wear  no  dress  but  what  is  simple,  and  conformable  to 
nature !  They  rail  at  decoration,  without  once  con- 
sidering, that,  when  we  see  a  plain  or  positively  ugly 
person  clothed  in  a  costly  and  gorgeous  fashion,  it  is 
not  the  poor  decoration  that  displeases  us.  I  would 
assemble  all  the  judges  in  the  world,  and  ask  them 
here  if  they  wished  to  see  one  of  these  folds,  of  these 
ribbons  and  laces,  these  braids,  ringlets,  and  glancing 
stones,  removed  ?  Would  they  not  dread  disturbing 
the  delightful  impression  that  so  naturally  and  spon- 
taneously meets  us  here  ?  Yes,  naturally  I  will  say  ! 
As  Minerva  sprang  in  complete  armour  from  the  head 
of  Jove ;  so  does  this  goddess  seem  to  have  stepped 
forth  with  a  light  foot,  in  all  her  ornaments,  from  the 
bosom  of  some  flower." 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  245 

While  reading,  he  turned  his  eyes  upon  her  fre- 
quently, as  if  he  wished  to  stamp  this  image  on  his 
soul  for  ever :  he  more  than  once  read  wrong,  yet  with- 
out falling  into  confusion  of  mind ;  though,  at  other 
times,  he  used  to  feel  the  mistaking  of  a  word  or  a 
letter  as  a  painful  deformity,  which  spoiled  a  whole 
recitation. 

A  false  alarm  of  the  arrival  of  the  guests  put  an 
end  to  the  reading;  the  baroness  went  out;  and  the 
countess,  while  about  to  shut  her  writing-desk,  which 
was  standing  open,  took  up  her  casket,  and  put  some 
other  rings  upon  her  finger.  "  We  are  soon  to  part," 
said  she,  keeping  her  eyes  upon  the  casket :  "  accept  a 
memorial  of  a  true  friend,  who  wishes  nothing  more 
earnestly  than  that  you  may  always  prosper."  She 
then  took  out  a  ring,  which,  underneath  a  crystal,  bore 
a  little  plait  of  woven  hair  beautifully  set  with  dia- 
monds. She  held  it  out  to  Wilhelm,  who,  on  taking 
it,  knew  neither  what  to  say  nor  do,  but  stood  as  if 
rooted  to  the  ground.  The  countess  shut  her  desk,  and 
sat  down  upon  the  sofa. 

"  And  I  must  go  empty  ? "  said  Philina,  kneeling 
down  at  the  countess's  right  hand.  "  Do  but  look  at 
the  man :  he  carries  such  a  store  of  words  in  his 
mouth,  when  no  one  wants  to  hear  them ;  and  now  he 
cannot  stammer  out  the  poorest  syllable  of  thanks. 
Quick,  sir !  Express  your  services  by  way  of  panto- 
mime at  least ;  and  if  to-day  you  can  invent  nothing, 
then,  for  Heaven's  sake,  be  my  imitator." 

Philina  seized  the  right  hand  of  the  countess,  and 
kissed  it  warmly.  Wilhelm  sank  upon  his  knee,  laid 
hold  of  the  left,  and  pressed  it  to  his  lips.  The  count- 
ess seemed  embarrassed,  yet  without  displeasure. 

"  Ah  ! "  cried  Philina,  "  so  much  splendour  of  attire, 
I  may  have  seen  before,  but  never  one  so  fit  to  wear 
it.  What  bracelets,  but  also  what  a  hand !  What  a 
neck-dress,  but  also  what  a  bosom." 


246  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

"  Peace,  little  cozener ! "  said  the  countess. 

"  Is  this  his  lordship,  then  ? "  said  Philina,  pointing 
to  a  rich  medalhon,  which  the  countess  wore  on  her 
left  side,  by  a  particular  chain. 

"  He  is  painted  in  his  bridegroom-dress,"  repHed  the 
countess. 

"  Was  he,  then,  so  young  ?  "  inquired  Philina :  "  I 
know  it  is  but  a  year  or  two  since  you  were  married." 

"  His  youth  must  be  placed  to  the  artist's  account," 
replied  the  lady. 

"  He  is  a  handsome  man,"  observed  Philina.  "  But 
was  there  never,"  she  continued,  placing  her  hand  on 
the  countess's  heart,  "  never  any  other  image  that 
found  its  way  in  secret  hither  ? " 

"  Thou  art  very  bold,  Philina,"  cried  she :  "  I  have 
spoiled  thee.     Let  me  never  hear  the  like  again." 

"  If  you  are  angry,  then  am  I  unhappy,"  said  Philina, 
springing  up,  and  hastening  from  the  room. 

Wilhelm  still  held  that  lovely  hand  in  both  of  his. 
His  eyes  were  fixed  on  the  bracelet-clasp :  he  noticed, 
with  extreme  surprise,  that  his  initials  were  traced  on 
it,  in  lines  of  brilliants. 

"  Have  I,  then,"  he  modestly  inquired,  "  your  own 
hair  in  this  precious  ring  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  replied  she  in  a  faint  voice :  then,  suddenly 
collecting  herself,  she  said,  and  pressed  his  hand, 
"  Arise,  and  fare  you  well ! " 

"  Here  is  my  name,"  cried  he,  "  by  the  most  curious 
chance ! "     He  pointed  to  the  bracelet-clasp. 

"  How  ? "  cried  the  countess :  "  it  is  the  cipher  of  a 
female  friend ! " 

"  They  are  the  initials  of  my  name.  Forget  me  not. 
Your  image  is  engraven  on  my  heart,  and  will  never 
be  effaced.     Farewell !  I  must  be  gone." 

He  kissed  her  hand,  and  meant  to  rise ;  but,  as  in 
dreams,  some  strange  thing  fades  and  changes  into 
something  stranger,  and  the  succeeding  wonder  takes 


MEISTER'S  APPRENTICESHIP  247 

US  by  surprise ;  so,  without  knowing  how  it  happened, 
he  found  the  countess  in  his  arms :  her  lips  were  rest- 
ing upon  liis,  and  their  warm  mutual  kisses  were 
yielding  them  that  blessedness  which  mortals  sip  from 
the  topmost  sparkling  foam  on  the  freshly  poured  cup 
of  love. 

Her  head  lay  on  his  shoulder :  the  disordered  ring- 
lets and  ruffles  were  forgotten.  She  had  thrown  her 
arm  round  him :  he  clasped  her  with  vivacity,  and 
pressed  her  again  and  again  to  his  breast.  Oh  that 
such  a  moment  could  but  last  for  ever !  And  woe  to 
envious  Fate  that  shortened  even  this  brief  moment 
to  our  friends ! 

How  terrified  was  Wilhelm,  how  astounded  did  he 
start  from  his  happy  dream,  when  the  countess,  with  a 
shriek,  on  a  sudden  tore  herself  away,  and  hastily 
pressed  her  hand  against  her  heart. 

He  stood  confounded  before  her :  she  held  the  other 
hand  upon  her  eyes,  and,  after  a  moment's  pause, 
exclaimed,  "  Away  !  leave  me !  delay  not ! " 

He  continued  standing. 

"  Leave  me ! "  she  cried ;  and,  taking  off  her  hand 
from  her  eyes,  she  looked  at  him  with  an  indescribable 
expression  of  countenance,  and  added,  in  the  most 
tender  and  affecting  voice,  "  Flee,  if  you  love  me." 

Wilhelm  was  out  of  the  chamber,  and  again  in  his 
room,  before  he  knew  what  he  was  doing. 

Unhappy  creatures !  What  singular  warning  of 
chance  or  of  destiny  tore  them  asunder? 


Book    IV. 


CHAPTER  I 

Laertes  was  standing  at  the  window  in  a  thoughtful 
mood,  resting  on  his  arm,  and  looking  out  into  the 
fields.  Philina  came  gliding  toward  him,  across  the 
large  hall :  she  leaned  upon  him,  and  began  to  mock 
him  for  his  serious  looks. 

"Do  not  laugh,"  replied  he :  " it  is  frightful  to  think 
how  time  goes  on,  how  all  things  change  and  have  an 
end.  See  here  !  A  little  while  ago  there  was  a  stately- 
camp  :  how  pleasantly  the  tents  looked !  what  restless 
life  and  motion  was  within  them !  how  carefully  they 
watched  the  whole  enclosure !  And,  behold,  it  is  all 
vanished  in  a  day !  For  a  short  while,  that  trampled 
straw,  those  holes  which  the  cooks  have  dug,  will  show 
a  trace  of  what  was  here ;  and  soon  the  whole  will  be 
ploughed  and  reaped  as  formerly,  and  the  presence  of 
so  many  thousand  gallant  fellows  in  this  quarter  will 
but  ghmmer  in  the  memories  of  one  or  two  old  men." 

Philina  began  to  sing,  and  dragged  forth  her  friend 
to  dance  with  her  in  the  hall.  "  Since  Time  is  not  a 
person  we  can  overtake  when  he  is  past,"  cried  she, 
"let  us  honour  him  with  mirth  and  cheerfulness  of 
heart  while  he  is  passing." 

They  had  scarcely  made  a  step  or  two,  when  Frau 
Melina  came  walking  through  the  hall.  Philina  was 
wicked  enough  to  invite  her  to  join  them  in  the  dance, 
and  thus  to  bring  her  in  mind  of  the  shape  to  which 
her  pregnancy  had  reduced  her. 

"  That  I  might  never  more  see  a  woman  in  an  inter- 
esting situation ! "  said  Philina,  when  her  back  was 
turned. 

251 


252  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

"  Yet  she  feels  an  interest  in  it,"  said  Laertes. 

"  But  she  manages  so  shockingly.  Didst  thou 
notice  that  wabbling  fold  of  her  shortened  petticoat, 
which  always  travels  out  before  her  when  she  moves  ? 
She  has  not  the  smallest  knack  or  skill  to  trim  herself 
a  little,  and  conceal  her  state." 

"  Let  her  be,"  said  Laertes.  "  Time  will  soon  come 
to  her  aid." 

"  It  were  prettier,  however,"  cried  Philina,  "  if  we 
could  shake  children  from  the  trees." 

The  baron  entered,  and  spoke  some  kind  words  to 
them,  adding  a  few  presents,  in  the  name  of  the  count 
and  the  countess,  who  had  left  the  place  very  early 
in  the  morning.  He  then  went  to  Wilhelm,  who  was 
busy  in  the  side-chamber  with  Mignon.  She  had  been 
extremely  affectionate  and  taking ;  had  asked  minutely 
about  Wilhelm' s  parents,  brothers,  sisters,  and  rela- 
tions ;  and  so  brought  to  his  mind  the  duty  he  owed 
his  people,  to  send  them  some  tidings  of  himself. 

With  the  farewell  compliments  of  the  family,  the 
baron  delivered  him  an  assurance  from  the  count,  that 
his  lordship  had  been  exceedingly  obliged  by  his  act- 
ing, his  poetical  labours,  and  theatrical  exertions.  For 
proof  of  this  statement,  the  baron  then  drew  forth  a 
purse,  through  whose  beautiful  texture  the  bright 
glance  of  new  gold  coin  was  sparkhng  out.  Wilhelm 
drew  back,  refusing  to  accept  of  it. 

"Look  upon  this  gift,"  said  the  baron,  "as  a  com- 
pensation for  your  time,  as  an  acknowledgment  of  your 
trouble,  not  as  the  reward  of  your  talents.  If  genius 
procures  us  a  good  name  and  good-will  from  men,  it  is 
fair  likewise,  that,  by  our  diligence  and  efforts,  we 
should  earn  the  means  to  satisfy  our  wants ;  since, 
after  all,  we  are  not  wholly  spirit.  Had  we  been  in 
town,  where  everything  is  to  be  got,  we  should  have 
changed  this  httle  sum  into  a  watch,  a  ring,  or  some- 
thing of  that  sort ;  but,  as  it  is,  I  must  place  the  magic 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  253 

rod  in  your  own  hands  ;  procure  a  trinket  with  it,  such 
as  may  please  you  best  and  be  of  greatest  use,  and 
keep  it  for  our  sakes.  At  the  same  time,  you  must 
not  forget  to  hold  the  purse  in  honour.  It  was  knit 
by  the  fingers  of  our  ladies :  they  meant  that  the  cover 
should  give  to  its  contents  the  most  pleasing  form." 

"  Forgive  my  embarrassment,"  said  Wilhelm,  "  and 
my  doubts  about  accepting  this  present.  It,  as  it 
were,  annihilates  the  little  I  have  done,  and  hinders 
the  free  play  of  happy  recollection.  Money  is  a  fine 
thing,  when  any  matter  is  to  be  completely  settled  and 
abolished :  I  feel  unwilling  to  be  so  entirely  abolished 
from  the  recollection  of  your  house." 

"  That  is  not  the  case,"  replied  the  baron  ;  "  but,  feel- 
ing so  tenderly  yourself,  you  could  not  wish  that  the 
count  should  be  obliged  to  consider  himself  wholly 
your  debtor,  especially  when  I  assure  you  that  his 
lordship's  highcvst  ambition  has  always  consisted  in 
being  punctual  and  just.  He  is  not  uninformed  of  the 
labour  you  have  undergone,  or  of  the  zeal  with  which 
you  have  devoted  all  your  time  to  execute  his  views ; 
nay,  he  is  aware,  that,  to  quicken  certain  operations, 
you  have  even  expended  money  of  your  own.  With 
what  face  shall  I  appear  before  him,  then,  if  I  cannot 
say  that  his  acknowledgment  has  given  you  satisfac- 
tion ? " 

"  If  I  thought  only  of  myseU,"  said  Wilhelm,  "  if  I 
might  follow  merely  the  dictates  of  my  own  feelings, 
I  should  certainly,  in  spite  of  all  these  reasons,  stead- 
fastly refuse  this  gift,  generous  and  honourable  as  it 
is  ;  but  I  will  not  deny,  that,  at  the  very  moment 
when  it  brings  me  into  one  perplexity,  it  frees  me  from 
another,  into  which  I  have  lately  fallen  with  regard  to 
my  relations,  and  which  has  in  secret  caused  me  much 
uneasiness.  My  management,  not  only  of  the  time, 
but  also  of  the  money,  for  which  I  have  to  give  account, 
has  not  been  the  best ;  and  now,  by  the  kindness  of 


254  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

his  lordship,  I  shall  be  enabled,  with  confidence,  to  give 
my  people  news  of  the  good  fortune  to  which  this 
curious  by-path  has  led  me.  I  therefore  sacrifice  those 
feelings  of  dehcacy,  which,  hke  a  tender  conscience, 
admonish  us  on  such  occasions,  to  a  higher  duty  ;  and, 
that  I  may  appear  courageously  before  my  father,  I 
must  consent  to  stand  ashamed  before  you." 

"  It  is  singular,"  replied  the  baron,  "  to  see  what  a 
world  of  hesitation  people  feel  about  accepting  money 
from  their  friends  and  patrons,  though  ready  to  receive 
any  other  gift  with  joy  and  thankfulness.  Human 
nature  manifests  some  other  such  pecuharities,  by 
which  many  scruples  of  a  similar  kind  are  produced 
and  carefully  cherished." 

"  Is  it  not  the  same  with  all  points  of  honour  ? " 
said  our  friend. 

"  It  is  so,"  replied  the  baron,  "  and  with  several  other 
prejudices.  We  must  not  root  them  out,  lest  in  doing 
so  we  tear  up  noble  plants  along  with  them.  Yet  I 
am  always  glad  when  I  meet  with  men  that  feel  supe- 
rior to  such  objections,  when  the  case  requires  it ;  and 
I  recall  with  pleasure  the  story  of  that  ingenious  poet 
who  had  written  several  plays  for  the  court  theatre, 
which  met  the  monarch's  warmest  approbation.  '  I 
must  give  him  a  distinguished  recompense,'  said  the 
generous  prince  :  '  ask  him  whether  he  would  choose 
to  have  some  jewel  given  him,  or  if  he  would  disdain 
to  accept  a  sum  of  money.'  In  his  humourous  way, 
the  poet  answered  the  inquiring  courtier,  '  I  am  thank- 
ful, with  all  my  heart,  for  these  gracious  purposes ;  and, 
as  the  emperor  is  daily  taking  money  from  us,  I  see  not 
wherefore  I  should  feel  ashamed  of  taking  some  from 
him.' " 

Scarcely  had  the  baron  left  the  room,  when  Wilhelm 
eagerly  began  to  count  the  cash,  which  had  come  to  him 
so  unexpectedly,  and,  as  he  thought,  so  undeservedly. 
It  seemed  as  if  the  worth  and  dignity  of  gold,  not 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  255 

■usually  felt  till  later  years,  had  now,  by  anticipation, 
twinkled  in  his  eyes  for  the  first  time,  as  the  fine, 
glancing  coins  rolled  out  from  the  beautiful  purse. 
He  reckoned  up,  and  found,  that,  particularly  as  Melina 
had  engaged  immediately  to  pay  the  loan,  he  had  now 
as  much  or  more  on  the  right  side  of  his  account  as  on 
that  day  when  Phihna  first  asked  him  for  the  nosegay. 
With  a  little  secret  satisfaction,  he  looked  upon  his 
talents ;  with  a  little  pride,  upon  the  fortune  which  had 
led  and  attended  him.  He  now  seized  the  pen,  with 
an  assured  mind,  to  write  a  letter  which  might  free  his 
family  from  their  anxieties,  and  set  his  late  proceed- 
ings in  the  most  favourable  light.  He  abstained  from 
any  special  narrative,  and  only  by  significant  and  mys- 
terious hints  left  them  room  for  guessing  at  what  had 
befallen  him.  The  good  condition  of  his  cash-book, 
the  advantage  he  had  earned  by  his  talents,  the  favour 
of  the  great  and  of  the  fair,  acquaintance  with  a  wider 
circle,  the  improvement  of  his  bodily  and  mental  gifts, 
his  hopes  from  the  future,  altogether  formed  such  a 
fair  cloud-picture,  that  Fata  Morgana  itself  could 
scarcely  have  thrown  together  a  stranger  or  a  better. 

In  this  happy  exaltation,  the  letter  being  folded  up, 
he  went  on  to  maintain  a  conversation  with  himself, 
recapitulating  what  he  had  been  wiiting,  and  pointing 
out  for  himself  an  active  and  glorious  future.  The  ex- 
ample of  so  many  gallant  warriors  had  fired  him ;  the 
poetry  of  Shakespeare  had  opened  a  new  world  to  him ; 
from  the  lips  of  the  beautiful  countess  he  had  inhaled 
an  inexpressible  inspiration.  All  this  could  not  and 
would  not  be  without  effect. 

The  Stallmeister  came  to  inquire  whether  they  were 
ready  with  their  packing.  Alas !  with  the  single  ex- 
ception of  Melina,  no  one  of  them  had  thought  of  it. 
Now,  however,  they  were  speedily  to  be  in  motion.  The 
count  had  engaged  to  have  the  whole  party  conveyed 
forward  a  few  days'  journey  on  their  way :  the  horses 


256  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

were  now  in  readiness,  and  could  not  long  be  wanted. 
Wilhelm  asked  for  his  trunk :  Frau  Melina  had  taken 
it  to  put  her  own  things  in.  He  asked  for  money : 
Herr  Melina  had  stowed  it  all  far  down  at  the  bottom  of 
his  box.  Philina  said  she  had  still  some  room  in  hers : 
she  took  Wilhelm's  clothes,  and  bade  Mignon  bring 
the  rest.  Wilhelm,  not  without  reluctance,  was  obliged 
to  let  it  be  so. 

While  they  were  loading,  and  getting  all  things 
ready,  Melina  said,  "  I  am  sorry  we  should  travel  like 
mountebanks  and  rope-dancers.  I  could  wish  that 
Mignon  would  put  on  gild's  clothes,  and  that  the 
harper  would  let  his  beard  be  shorn."  Mignon  clung 
firmly  to  Wilhelm,  and  cried,  with  great  vivacity,  "  I 
am  a  boy  —  I  will  be  no  girl ! "  The  old  man  held 
his  peace ;  and  Philina,  on  this  suggestion,  made  some 
merry  observations  on  the  singularity  of  their  pro- 
tector, the  count.  "  If  the  harper  should  cut  off  his 
beard,"  said  she,  "  let  'him  sew  it  carefully  upon  a 
ribbon,  and  keep  it  by  him,  that  he  may  put  it  on 
again  whenever  his  lordship  the  count  falls  in  with 
him  in  any  quarter  of  the  world.  It  was  this 
beard  alone  that  procured  him  the  favour  of  his  lord- 
ship." 

On  being  pressed  to  give  an  explanation  of  this  singu- 
lar speech,  Philina  said  to  them,  "  The  count  thinks  it 
contributes  very  much  to  the  completeness  of  theatrical 
illusion  if  the  actor  continues  to  play  his  part,  and  to 
sustain  his  character,  even  in  common  life.  It  was  for 
this  reason  that  he  showed  such  favour  to  the  Pedant : 
and  he  judged  it,  in  like  manner,  very  fitting  that  the 
harper  not  only  wore  his  false  beard  at  nights  on  the 
stage,  but  also  constantly  by  day ;  and  he  used  to  be 
dehghted  at  the  natural  appearance  of  the  mask." 

While  the  rest  were  laughing  at  this  error,  and  the 
other  strange  opinions  of  the  count,  the  harper  led  our 
friend  aside,  took  leave  of  him,  and  begged,  with  tears. 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  257 

that  he  would  even  now  let  him  go.  Wilhelm  spoke 
to  him,  declaring  that  he  would  protect  him  against  all 
the  world  ;  that  no  one  should  touch  a  hair  of  his  head, 
much  less  send  him  off  against  his  will. 

The  old  man  seemed  affected  deeply :  an  unwonted 
fire  was  glowing  in  his  eyes.  "  It  is  not  that,"  cried  he, 
"  which  drives  me  away.  I  have  long  been  reproach- 
ing myself  in  secret  for  staying  with  you.  I  ought  to 
linger  nowhere,  for  misfortune  flies  to  overtake  me,  and 
injures  all  that  are  connected  with  me.  Dread  every- 
thing, unless  you  dismiss  me ;  but  ask  me  no  questions. 
I  belong  not  to  myself.     I  cannot  stay." 

"  To  whom  dost  thou  belong  ?  Who  can  exert  such 
a  power  on  thee  ? " 

"  Leave  me  my  horrid  secret,  and  let  me  go !  The 
vengeance  which  pursues  me  is  not  of  the  earthly 
judge.  I  belong  to  an  inexorable  destiny.  I  cannot 
stay,  and  I  dare  not." 

"  In  the  situation  I  see  thee  in,  I  shall  certainly  not 
let  thee  go." 

"  It  were  high  treason  against  you,  my  benefactor, 
if  I  should  delay.  I  am  secure  while  with  you,  but 
you  are  in  peril.  You  know  not  whom  you  keep  be- 
side you.  I  am  guilty,  but  more  wretched  than  guilty. 
My  presence  scares  happiness  away,  and  good  deeds 
grow  powerless  when  I  become  concerned  in  them. 
Fugitive,  unresting  I  should  be,  that  my  evil  genius 
might  not  seize  me,  which  pursues  but  at  a  distance, 
and  only  appears  when  I  have  found  a  place,  and  am 
laying  down  my  head  to  seek  repose.  More  grateful  I 
cannot  show  myself  than  by  forsaking  you." 

"  Strange  man  !  Thou  canst  neither  take  away  the 
confidence  I  place  in  thee,  nor  the  hope  I  feel  to  see 
thee  happy.  I  wish  not  to  penetrate  the  secrets  of  thy 
superstition ;  but  if  thou  livest  in  belief  of  wonderful 
forebodings,  and  entanglements  of  fate,  then,  to  cheer 
and  hearten  thee,  I  say,  unite  thyself  to  my  good  for- 


258  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

tune,  and  let  us  see  which  genius  is  the  stronger,  thy 
dark  or  my  bright  one." 

Wilhelm  seized  this  opportunity  of  suggesting  to  him 
many  other  comfortable  things ;  for  of  late  our  friend 
had  begun  to  imagine  that  this  singular  attendant  of 
his  must  be  a  man,  who,  by  chance  or  destiny,  had  been 
led  into  some  weighty  crime,  the  remembrance  of  which 
he  was  ever  bearing  on  his  conscience. 

A  few  days  ago  Wilhelm,  listening  to  his  singing, 
had  observed  attentively  the  following  lines : 

"  For  him  the  light  of  ruddy  mom 

But  paints  the  horizon  red  with  flame  ; 
And  voices,  from  the  depths  of  nature  borne, 
Woe  !  woe !  upon  his  guilty  head  proclaim." 

But,  let  the  old  man  urge  what  arguments  he  pleased, 
our  friend  had  constantly  a  stronger  argument  at  hand. 
He  turned  everything  on  its  fairest  side ;  .spoke  so 
bravely,  heartily,  and  cheerily,  that  even  the  old 
man  seemed  again  to  gather  spirits,  and  to  throw  aside 
his  whims. 


CHAPTEE   II. 

Melina  was  in  hopes  to  get  established,  with  his 
company,  in  a  small  but  thriving  town  at  some  dis- 
tance. They  had  already  reached  the  place  where  the 
count's  horses  were  to  turn,  and  now  they  looked 
about  for  other  carriages  and  cattle  to  transport  them 
onward.  Melina  had  engaged  to  provide  them  a  con- 
veyance :  he  showed  himself  but  niggardly,  according 
to  his  custom.  Wilhelm,  on  the  contrary,  had  the 
shining  ducats  of  the  countess  in  his  pocket,  and 
thought  he  had  the  fullest  right  to  spend  them 
merrily ;  forgetting  very  soon  how  ostentatiously  he 
had  produced  them  in  the  stately  balance  transmitted 
to  his  father. 

His  friend  Shakespeare,  whom  with  the  greatest  joy 
he  acknowledged  as  his  godfather,  and  rejoiced  the 
more  that  his  name  was  Wilhelm,  had  introduced  him 
to  a  prince,  who  frolicked  for  a  time  among  mean, 
nay,  vicious  companions,  and  who,  notwithstanding  his 
nobleness  of  nature,  found  pleasure  in  the  rudeness, 
indecency,  and  coarse  intemperance  of  these  altogether 
sensual  knaves.  This  ideal  likeness,  which  he  figured 
as  the  type  and  the  excuse  of  his  own  actual  condition, 
was  most  welcome  to  our  friend ;  and  the  process  of 
self-deception,  to  which  already  he  displayed  an  almost 
invincible  tendency,  was  thereby  very  much  facilitated. 

He  now  began  to  think  about  his  dress.  It  struck 
him  that  a  waistcoat,  over  which,  in  case  of  need,  one 
could  throw  a  little  short  mantle,  was  a  very  fit  thing 
for  a  traveller.  Long  knit  pantaloons,  and  a  pair  of 
lacing-boots,  seemed  the  true  garb  of  a  pedestrian.     He 

259 


26o  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

next  procured  a  fine  silk  sash,  which  he  tied  about 
him,  under  the  pretence  at  first  of  securing  warmth 
for  his  person.  On  the  other  hand,  he  freed  his  neck 
from  the  tyranny  of  stocks,  and  got  a  few  stripes  of 
musHn  sewed  upon  his  shirt ;  making  the  pieces  of 
considerable  breadth,  so  that  they  presented  the  com- 
plete appearance  of  an  ancient  ruff.  The  beautiful 
silk  neckerchief,  the  memorial  of  Mariana,  which  had 
once  been  saved  from  burning,  now  lay  slackly  tied 
beneath  this  mushn  collar.  A  round  hat,  with  a  party- 
coloured  band,  and  a  large  feather,  perfected  the 
mask. 

The  women  all  asserted  that  this  garb  became  him 
very  well.  Philina  in  particular  appeared  enchanted 
with  it.  She  solicited  his  hair  for  herself,  —  beautiful 
locks,  which,  the  closer  to  approach  the  natural  ideal, 
he  had  unmercifully  clipped.  By  so  doing  she  rec- 
ommended herself  not  amiss  to  his  favour ;  and  our 
friend,  who  by  his  open-handedness  had  acquired  the 
right  of  treating  his  companions  somewhat  in  Prince 
Harry's  manner,  erelong  fell  into  the  humour  of  him- 
self contriving  a  few  wild  tricks,  and  presiding  in  the 
execution  of  them.  The  people  fenced,  they  danced, 
they  devised  all  kinds  of  sports,  and,  in  their  gaiety  of 
heart,  partook  of  what  tolerable  wine  they  could  fall 
in  with  in  copious  proportions ;  while,  amid  the  dis- 
order of  this  tumultuous  life,  Philina  lay  in  wait  for 
the  coy  hero,  —  over  whom  let  his  better  genius  keep 
watch ! 

One  chief  diversion,  which  yielded  the  company  a 
frequent  and  very  pleasing  entertainment,  consisted  in 
producing  an  extempore  play,  in  which  their  late  bene- 
factors and  patrons  were  mimicked,  and  turned  into 
ridicule.  Some  of  our  actors  had  seized  very  neatly 
whatever  was  peculiar  in  the  outward  manner  of 
several  distinguished  people  in  the  count's  establish- 
ment ;  their  imitation  of  these  was  received  by  the  rest 


MEISTER'S  APPRENTICESHIP  261 

of  the  party  with  the  greatest  approbation :  and  when 
PhiHna  produced,  from  the  secret  archives  of  her  ex- 
perience, certain  peculiar  declarations  of  love  that  had 
been  made  to  her,  the  audience  were  like  to  die  with 
laughing  and  malicious  joy. 

Wilhelm  censured  their  ingratitude;  but  they  told 
him  in  reply  that  these  gentry  well  deserved  what 
they  were  getting,  their  general  conduct  toward  such 
deserving  people,  as  our  friends  believed  themselves, 
not  having  been  by  any  means  the  best  imaginable. 
The  little  consideration,  the  neglect  they  had  experi- 
enced, were  now  described  with  many  aggravations. 
The  jesting,  bantering,  and  mimicry  proceeded  as 
before :  our  party  were  growing  bitterer  and  more 
unjust  every  minute. 

"  I  wish,"  observed  Wilhelm,  "  there  were  no  envy 
or  selfishness  lurking  under  what  you  say,  but  that 
you  would  regard  those  persons  and  their  station  in 
the  proper  point  of  view.  It  is  a  peculiar  thing  to  be 
placed,  by  one's  very  birth,  in  an  elevated  situation 
in  society.  The  man  for  whom  inherited  wealth  has 
secured  a  perfect  freedom  of  existence ;  who  finds  him- 
self from  his  youth  upwards  abundantly  encompassed 
with  all  the  secondary  essentials,  so  to  speak,  of  human 
life,  —  will  generally  become  accustomed  to  consider 
these  qualifications  as  the  first  and  gi-eatest  of  all; 
while  the  worth  of  that  mode  of  human  life,  which 
nature  from  her  own  stores  equips  and  furnishes,  will 
strike  him  much  more  faintly.  The  behaviour  of 
noblemen  to  their  inferiors,  and  likewise  to  each  other, 
is  regulated  by  external  preferences.  They  give  each 
credit  for  his  title,  his  rank,  his  clothes,  and  equipage ; 
but  his  individual  merits  come  not  into  play." 

This  speech  was  honoured  with  the  company's  un- 
bounded applause.  They  declared  it  to  be  shameful, 
that  men  of  merit  should  constantly  be  pushed  into 
the  background;   and  that,  in  the  great  world,  there 


262  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

should  not  be  a  trace  of  natural  and  hearty  inter- 
course. On  this  latter  point  particularly  they  overshot 
all  bounds. 

"  Blame  them  not  for  it,"  said  Wilhelm,  "  rather  pity 
them !  They  have  seldom  an  exalted  feeling  of  that 
happiness  which  we  admit  to  be  the  highest  that  can 
flow  from  the  inward  abundance  of  nature.  Only  to 
us  poor  creatures  is  it  granted  to  enjoy  the  happiness 
of  friendship  in  its  richest  fulness.  Those  dear  to  us 
we  cannot  elevate  by  our  countenance,  or  advance  by 
our  favour,  or  make  happy  by  our  presents.  We  have 
nothing  but  ourselves.  This  whole  self  we  must  give 
away ;  and,  if  it  is  to  be  of  any  value,  we  must  make 
our  friend  secure  of  it  for  ever.  What  an  enjoyment, 
what  a  happiness,  for  giver  and  receiver !  With  what 
blessedness  does  truth  of  affection  invest  our  situation ! 
It  gives  to  the  transitory  Kfe  of  man  a  heavenly 
certainty :  it  forms  the  crown  and  capital  of  all  that 
we  possess." 

While  he  spoke  thus,  Mignon  had  come  near  him : 
she  threw  her  little  arms  round  him,  and  stood  with 
her  cheek  resting  on  his  breast.  He  laid  his  hand 
on  the  child's  head,  and  proceeded,  "  It  is  easy  for 
a  great  man  to  win  our  minds  to  him,  easy  to  make 
our  hearts  his  own.  A  mild  and  pleasant  manner, 
a  manner  only  not  inhuman,  will  of  itself  do  wonders, 
—  and  how  many  means  does  he  possess  of  holding 
fast  the  affections  he  has  once  conquered  ?  To  us, 
all  this  occurs  less  frequently ;  to  us  it  is  all  more 
difficult;  and  we  naturally,  therefore,  put  a  gi'eater 
value  on  whatever,  in  the  way  of  mutual  kindness, 
we  acquire  and  accomplish.  What  touching  examples 
of  faithful  servants  giving  themselves  up  to  danger 
and  death  for  their  masters  ?  How  finely  has  Shake- 
speare painted  out  such  things  to  us !  Fidelity,  in 
this  case,  is  the  effort  of  a  noble  soul,  struggling  to 
become  equal  with  one  exalted  above  it.     By  steadfast 


MEISTER'S  APPRENTICESHIP  263 

attachment  and  love,  the  servant  is  made  equal  to  his 
lord,  who,  but  for  this,  is  justified  in  looking  on  him  as 
a  hired  slave.  Yes,  these  virtues  belong  to  the  lower 
class  of  men  alone :  that  class  cannot  do  without 
them,  and  with  them  it  has  a  beauty  of  its  own. 
Whoever  is  enabled  to  requite  all  favours  easily  will 
likewise  easily  be  tempted  to  raise  himself  above  the 
habit  of  acknowledgment.  Nay,  in  this  sense,  I  am 
of  opinion  it  might  almost  be  maintained,  that  a  great 
man  may  possess  friends,  but  cannot  be  one." 

Mignon  clung  more  and  more  closely  to  him. 

'•'  It  may  be  so,"  replied  one  of  the  party :  "  we  do 
not  need  their  friendship,  and  do  not  ask  it.  But  it 
were  well  if  they  understood  a  little  more  about  the 
arts,  which  they  affect  to  patronise.  When  we  played 
in  the  best  style,  there  was  none  to  mind  us :  it  was 
all  sheer  partiality.  Any  one  they  chose  to  favour, 
pleased  ;  and  they  did  not  choose  to  favour  those  that 
merited  to  please.  It  was  intolerable  to  observe  how 
often  silliness  and  mere  stupidity  attracted  notice  and 
applause." 

"When  I  abate  from  this,"  said  Wilhelm,  "what 
seemed  to  spring  from  irony  and  malice,  I  think  we 
may  nearly  say,  that  one  fares  in  art  as  he  does  in 
love.  And,  after  all,  how  shall  a  fashionable  man  of 
the  world,  with  his  dissipated  habits,  attain  that  inti- 
mate presence  with  a  special  object,  which  an  artist 
must  long  continue  in,  if  he  would  produce  anything 
approaching  to  perfection,  —  a  state  of  feeling  without 
which  it  is  impossible  for  any  one  to  take  such  an 
interest,  as  the  artist  hopes  and  wishes,  in  his  work  ? 

"  Believe  me,  my  friends,  it  is  with  talents  as  with 
virtue ;  one  must  love  them  for  their  own  sake,  or 
entirely  renounce  them.  And  neither  of  them  is 
acknowledged  and  rewarded,  except  when  their  pos- 
sessor can  practise  them  unseen,  like  a  dangerous 
secret." 


264  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

"  Meanwhile,  until  some  proper  judge  discovers  us, 
we  may  all  die  of  hunger,"  cried  a  fellow  in  the  corner. 

"  Not  quite  inevitably,"  answered  Wilhelm.  "  I 
have  observed,  that,  so  long  as  one  stirs  and  hves,  one 
always  finds  food  and  raiment,  though  they  be  not  of 
the  richest  sort.  And  why  should  we  repine  ?  Were 
we  not,  altogether  unexpectedly,  and  when  our  pros- 
pects were  the  very  worst,  taken  kindly  by  the  hand, 
and  substantially  entertained  ?  And  now,  when  we 
are  in  want  of  nothing,  does  it  once  occur  to  us  to 
attempt  anything  for  our  improvement,  or  to  strive, 
though  never  so  faintly,  toward  advancement  in  our 
art  ?  We  are  busied  about  indifferent  matters ;  and, 
like  schoolboys,  we  are  casting  all  aside  that  might 
bring  our  lesson  to  our  thoughts." 

"  In  sad  truth,"  said  Philina,  "  it  is  even  so  !  Let  us 
choose  a  play :  we  will  go  through  it  on  the  spot. 
Each  of  us  must  do  his  best,  as  if  he  stood  before  the 
largest  audience." 

They  did  not  long  deliberate :  a  play  was  fixed  on. 
It  was  one  of  those  which  at  that  time  were  meeting 
great  applause  in  Germany,  and  have  now  passed 
away.  Some  of  the  party  whistled  a  symphony ;  each 
speedily  bethought  him  of  his  part ;  they  commenced, 
and  acted  the  entire  play  with  the  greatest  attention, 
and  really  well  beyond  expectation.  Mutual  applauses 
circulated :  our  friends  had  seldom  been  so  pleasantly 
diverted. 

On  finishing,  they  all  felt  exceedingly  contented, 
partly  on  account  of  their  time  being  spent  so  well, 
partly  because  each  of  them  experienced  some  degree 
of  satisfaction  with  his  own  performance.  Wilhelm 
expressed  himself  copiously  in  their  praise:  the  con- 
versation grew  cheerful  and  merry. 

"  You  would  see,"  cried  our  friend,  "  what  advances 
we  should  make,  if  we  continued  this  sort  of  training, 
and  ceased  to  confine  our  attention  to  mere  learning 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  265 

by  heart,  rehearsing  and  playing  mechanically,  as  if  it 
were  a  barren  duty,  or  some  handicraft  employment. 
How  different  a  character  do  our  musical  professors 
merit !  What  interest  they  take  in  their  art !  how 
correct  are  they  in  the  practicings  they  undertake  in 
common !  What  pains  they  are  at  in  tuning  their 
instruments ;  how  exactly  they  observe  time ;  how 
dehcately  they  express  the  strength  and  the  weakness 
of  their  tones  !  No  one  there  thinks  of  gaining  credit 
to  himself  by  a  loud  accompaniment  of  the  solo  of 
another.  Each  tries  to  play  in  the  spirit  of  the  com- 
poser, each  to  express  well  whatever  is  committed  to 
him,  be  it  much  or  little. 

"  Should  not  we,  too,  go  as  strictly  and  as  ingeniously 
to  work,  seeing  we  practise  an  art  far  more  delicate 
than  that  of  music,  —  seeing  we  are  called  on  to  ex- 
press the  commonest  and  the  strangest  emotions  of 
human  nature,  with  elegance,  and  so  as  to  delight  ? 
Can  anything  be  more  shocking  than  to  slur  over  our 
rehearsal,  and  in  our  acting  to  depend  on  good  luck,  or 
the  capricious  choice  of  the  moment  ?  We  ought  to 
place  our  highest  happiness  and  satisfaction  in  mu- 
tually desiring  to  gain  each  other's  approbation:  we 
should  even  value  the  applauses  of  the  pubHc  only  in 
so  far  as  we  have  previously  sanctioned  them  among 
ourselves.  Why  is  the  master  of  the  band  more  secure 
about  his  music  than  the  manager  about  his  play  ? 
Because,  in  the  orchestra,  each  individual  would  feel 
ashamed  of  his  mistakes,  which  offend  the  outward  ear ; 
but  how  seldom  have  I  found  an  actor  disposed  to  ac- 
knowledge or  feel  ashamed  of  mistakes,  pardonable  or 
the  contrary,  by  which  the  inward  ear  is  so  outra- 
geously offended !  I  could  wish,  for  my  part,  that  our 
theatre  were  as  narrow  as  the  wire  of  a  rope-dancer,  that 
so  no  inept  fellow  might  dare  to  venture  on  it,  instead 
of  being,  as  it  is,  a  place  where  every  one  discovers  in 
himself  capacity  enough  to  flourish  and  parade." 


266  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

The  company  gave  this  apostrophe  a  kind  reception ; 
each  being  convinced  that  the  censure  conveyed  in  it 
could  not  apply  to  him,  after  acting  a  little  while  ago 
so  excellently  with  the  rest.  On  the  other  hand,  it  was 
agreed,  that  during  this  journey,  and  for  the  future  if 
they  remained  together,  they  would  regularly  proceed 
with  their  training  in  the  manner  just  adopted.  Only 
it  was  thought,  that,  as  this  was  a  thing  of  good  humour 
and  free  will,  no  formal  manager  must  be  allowed  to 
have  a  hand  in  it.  Taking  it  for  an  established  fact, 
that,  among  good  men,  the  republican  form  of  govern- 
ment is  the  best,  they  declared  that  the  post  of  mana- 
ger should  go  round  among  them :  he  must  be  chosen 
by  universal  suffrage,  and  every  time  have  a  sort  of 
little  senate  joined  in  authority  along  with  him.  So 
delighted  did  they  feel  with  this  idea,  that  they  longed 
to  put  it  instantly  in  practice. 

"  I  have  no  objection,"  said  Melina,  "  if  you  incline 
making  such  an  experiment  while  we  are  travelling : 
I  shall  willingly  suspend  my  own  directorship  until  we 
reach  some  settled  place."  He  was  in  hopes  of  saving 
cash  by  this  arrangement,  and  of  casting  many  small 
expenses  on  the  shoulders  of  the  little  senate  or  of  the 
interim  manager.  This  fixed,  they  went  very  earnestly 
to  counsel  how  the  form  of  the  new  commonwealth 
might  best  be  adjusted. 

"  'Tis  an  itinerating  kingdom,"  said  Laertes :  "  we 
shall  at  least  have  no  quarrels  about  frontiers." 

They  directly  proceeded  to  the  business,  and  elected 
Wilhelm  as  their  first  manager.  The  senate  also  was 
appointed,  the  women  having  seat  and  vote  in  it :  laws 
were  propounded,  were  rejected,  were  agreed  to.  In 
such  playing,  the  time  passed  on  unnoticed ;  and,  as  our 
friends  had  spent  it  pleasantly,  they  also  conceived 
that  they  had  really  been  effecting  something  useful, 
and,  by  their  new  constitution,  had  been  opening  a  new 
prospect  for  the  stage  of  their  native  country. 


CHAPTER   III. 

Seeing  the  company  so  favourably  disposed,  Wilhelm 
now  hoped  he  might  further  have  it  in  his  power  to 
converse  with  them  on  the  poetic  merit  of  the  plays 
which  might  come  before  them.  "  It  is  not  enough," 
said  he  next  day,  when  they  were  all  again  assembled, 
"  for  the  actor  merely  to  glance  over  a  dramatic  work, 
to  judge  of  it  by  his  first  impression,  and  thus,  without 
investigation,  to  declare  his  satisfaction  or  dissatisfac- 
tion with  it.  Such  things  may  be  allowed  in  a  spec- 
tator, whose  purpose  it  is  rather  to  be  entertained  and 
moved  than  formally  to  criticise.  But  the  actor,  on  the 
other  hand,  should  be  prepared  to  give  a  reason  for  his 
praise  or  censure ;  and  how  shall  he  do  this,  if  he  have 
not  taught  himself  to  penetrate  the  sense,  the  views, 
and  feelings  of  his  author  ?  A  common  error  is,  to 
form  a  judgment  of  a  drama  from  a  single  part  in  it, 
and  to  look  upon  this  part  itself  in  an  isolated  point  of 
view,  not  in  its  connection  with  the  whole.  I  have 
noticed  this  within  a  few  days,  so  clearly  in  my  own 
conduct,  that  I  will  give  you  the  account  as  an  example, 
if  you  please  to  hear  me  patiently. 

"  You  all  know  Shakespeare's  incomparable  '  Ham- 
let : '  our  public  reading  of  it  at  the  castle  yielded  every 
one  of  us  the  greatest  satisfaction.  On  that  occasion 
we  proposed  to  act  the  play ;  and  I,  not  knowing  what 
I  undertook,  engaged  to  play  the  prince's  part.  This  I 
conceived  that  I  was  studying,  while  I  began  to  get  by 
heart  the  strongest  passages,  the  soliloquies,  and  those 
scenes  in  which  force  of  soul,  vehemence  and  elevation 
of  feeling,  have  the  freest  scope ;  where  the  agitated 

267 


268  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

heart  is  allowed  to  display  itself  with  touching  expres- 
siveness. 

"  I  further  conceived  that  I  was  penetrating  quite 
into  the  spirit  of  the  character,  while  I  endeavoured,  as 
it  were,  to  take  upon  myself  the  load  of  deep  melan- 
choly under  which  my  prototype  was  labouring,  and  in 
this  humour  to  pursue  him  through  the  strange  laby- 
rinths of  his  caprices  and  his  singularities.  Thus 
learning,  thus  practising,  I  doubted  not  but  I  should  by 
and  by  become  one  person  with  my  hero. 

"  But,  the  farther  I  advanced,  the  more  difficult  did 
it  become  for  me  to  form  any  image  of  the  whole,  in 
its  general  bearings ;  till  at  last  it  seemed  as  if  impos- 
sible. I  next  went  through  the  entire  piece,  without 
interruption  ;  but  here,  too,  I  found  much  that  I  could 
not  away  with.  At  one  time  the  characters,  at  another 
time  the  manner  of  displaying  them,  seemed  inconsist- 
ent ;  and  I  almost  despaired  of  finding  any  general 
tint,  in  which  I  might  present  my  whole  part  with  all 
its  shadings  and  variations.  In  such  devious  paths  I 
toiled,  and  wandered  long  in  vain ;  till  at  length  a  hope 
arose  that  I  might  reach  my  aim  in  quite  a  new  way. 

"  I  set  about  investigating  every  trace  of  Hamlet's 
character,  as  it  had  shown  itself  before  his  father's 
death :  I  endeavoured  to  distinguish  what  in  it  was 
independent  of  this  mournful  event,  independent  of  the 
terrible  events  that  followed ;  and  what  most  probably 
the  young  man  would  have  been,  had  no  such  thing 
occurred. 

"  Soft,  and  from  a  noble  stem,  this  royal  flower  had 
sprung  up  under  the  immediate  influences  of  majesty ; 
the  idea  of  moral  rectitude  with  that  of  princely  eleva- 
tion, the  feeling  of  the  good  and  dignified  with  the 
consciousness  of  high  birth,  had  in  him  been  unfolded 
simultaneously.  He  was  a  prince,  by  birth  a  prince ; 
and  he  wi.shed  to  reign,  only  that  good  men  might  be 
good  without  obstruction.     Pleasing  in  form,  polished 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  269 

by  nature,  courteous  from  the  heart,  he  was  meant  to 
be  the  pattern  of  youth  and  the  joy  of  the  world. 

"  Without  any  prominent  passion,  his  love  for 
Ophelia  was  a  still  presentiment  of  sweet  wants.  His 
zeal  in  knightly  accomphshments  was  not  entirely  his 
own :  it  needed  to  be  quickened  and  inflamed  by  praise 
bestowed  on  others  for  excelling  in  them.  Pure  in 
sentiment,  he  knew  the  honourable-minded,  and  could 
prize  the  rest  which  an  upright  spirit  tastes  on  the 
bosom  of  a  friend.  To  a  certain  degree,  he  had  learned 
to  discern  and  value  the  good  and  the  beautiful  in  arts 
and  sciences ;  the  mean,  the  vulgar,  was  offensive  to 
him ;  and,  if  hatred  could  take  root  in  his  tender  soul, 
it  was  only  so  far  as  to  make  him  properly  despise  the 
false  and  changeful  insects  of  a  court,  and  play  with 
them  in  easy  scorn.  He  was  calm  in  his  temper,  artless 
in  his  conduct,  neither  pleased  with  idleness,  nor  too 
violently  eager  for  employment.  The  routine  of  a 
university  he  seemed  to  continue  when  at  court.  He 
possessed  more  mirth  of  humour  than  of  heart :  he  was 
a  good  companion,  pHant,  courteous,  discreet,  and  able 
to  forget  and  forgive  an  injury,  yet  never  able  to  unite 
himself  with  those  who  overstepped  the  limits  of  the 
right,  the  good,  and  the  becoming. 

"When  we  read  the  piece  again,  you  shall  judge 
whether  I  am  yet  on  the  proper  track.  I  hope  at  least 
to  bring  forward  passages  that  shall  support  my  opinion 
in  its  main  points." 

This  delineation  was  received  with  warm  approval ; 
the  company  imagined  they  foresaw  that  Hamlet's 
manner  of  proceeding  might  now  be  very  satisfactorily 
explained ;  they  applauded  this  method  of  penetrating 
into  the  spirit  of  a  writer.  Each  of  them  proposed  to 
himself  to  take  up  some  piece,  and  study  it  on  these 
principles,  and  so  unfold  the  author's  meaning. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

OUK  friends  had  to  continue  in  the  place  for  a 
day  or  two,  and  it  was  not  long  ere  sundry  of  them 
got  engaged  in  adventures  of  a  rather  pleasant  kind. 
Laertes  in  particular  was  challenged  by  a  lady  of  the 
neighbourhood,  a  person  of  some  property ;  but  he  re- 
ceived her  blandishments  with  extreme,  nay,  unhand- 
some, coldness,  and  had  in  consequence  to  undergo  a  mul- 
titude of  jibes  from  Phihna.  She  took  this  opportunity 
of  detailing  to  our  friend  the  hapless  love-story  which 
had  made  the  youth  so  bitter  a  foe  to  womankind. 
"  Who  can  take  it  ill  of  him,"  she  cried,  "  that  he  hates 
a  sex  which  has  played  him  so  foul,  and  given  him  to 
swallow,  in  one  stoutly  concentrated  potion,  all  the 
miseries  that  man  can  fear  from  woman  ?  Do  but  con- 
ceive it :  within  four  and  twenty  hours,  he  was  lover, 
bridegroom,  husband,  cuckold,  patient,  and  widower  ! 
I  wot  not  how  you  could  use  a  man  worse." 

Laertes  hastened  from  the  room  half  vexed,  half 
laughing;  and  Philina  in  her  sprightHest  style  began 
to  relate  the  story  :  how  Laertes,  a  young  man  of  eight- 
een, on  joining  a  company  of  actors,  found  in  it  a  girl 
of  fourteen  on  the  point  of  departing  with  her  father, 
who  had  quarrelled  with  the  manager.  How,  on  the 
instant,  he  had  fallen  mortally  in  love ;  had  conjured 
the  father  by  all  possible  considerations  to  remain, 
promising  at  length  to  marry  the  young  woman.  How, 
after  a  few  pleasing  hours  of  groomship,  he  had  accord- 
ingly been  wedded,  and  been  happy  as  he  ought; 
whereupon,  next  day,  while  he  was  occupied  at  the 
rehearsal,  his  wife,  according  to  professional  rule,  had 

270 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  271 

honoured  him  with  a  pair  of  horns ;  and  how  as  he,  out 
of  excessive  tenderness,  hastening  home  far  too  soon, 
had,  alas !  found  a  former  lover  in  his  place,  he  had 
struck  into  the  affair  with  thoughtless  indignation,  had 
called  out  both  father  and  lover,  and  sustained  a  griev- 
ous wound  in  the  duel.  How  father  and  daughter 
had  thereupon  set  off  by  night,  leaving  him  behind  to 
labour  with  a  double  hurt.  How  the  leech  he  applied 
to  was  unhappily  the  worst  in  nature,  and  the  poor  fel- 
low had  got  out  of  the  adventure  with  blackened  teeth 
and  watering  eyes.  That  he  was  greatly  to  be  pitied, 
being  otherwise  the  bravest  young  man  on  the  surface 
of  the  earth.  "  Especially,"  said  she,  "  it  giieves  me 
that  the  poor  soul  now  hates  women;  for,  hating 
women,  how  can  one  keep  living  ? " 

Melina  interrupted  them  with  news,  that,  all  things 
being  now  ready  for  the  journey,  they  would  set  out 
to-morrow  morning.  He  handed  them  a  plan,  arrang- 
ing how  they  were  to  travel. 

"  If  any  good  friend  take  me  on  his  lap,"  said  Philina, 
"  I  shall  be  content,  though  we  sit  crammed  together 
never  so  close  and  sorrily :  'tis  all  one  to  me." 

"It  does  not  signify,"  observed  Laertes,  who  now 
entered. 

"  It  is  pitiful,"  said  Wilhelm,  hastening  away.  By 
the  aid  of  money,  he  secured  another  very  comfortable 
coach ;  though  Melina  had  pretended  that  there  were 
no  more.  A  new  distribution  then  took  place ;  and 
our  friends  were  rejoicing  in  the  thought  that  they 
should  now  travel  pleasantly,  when  intelligence  arrived 
that  a  party  of  military  volunteers  had  been  seen  upon 
the  road,  from  whom  little  good  could  be  expected. 

In  the  town  these  tidings  were  received  with  great 
attention,  though  they  were  but  variable  and  ambiguous. 
As  the  contending  armies  were  at  that  time  placed,  it 
seemed  impossible  that  any  hostile  corps  could  have 
advanced,  or  any  friendly  one  hung  a-rear,  so  far.     Yet 


272  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

every  man  was  eager  to  exhibit  to  our  travellers  the 
danger  that  awaited  them  as  truly  dangerous :  every 
man  was  eager  to  suggest  that  some  other  route  might 
be  adopted. 

By  these  means,  most  of  our  friends  had  been  seized 
with  anxiety  and  fear ;  and  when,  according  to  the  new 
republican  constitution,  the  whole  members  of  the 
state  had  been  called  together  to  take  counsel  on  this 
extraordinary  case,  they  were  almost  unanimously  of 
opinion  that  it  would  be  proper  either  to  keep  back 
the  mischief  by  abiding  where  they  were,  or  to  evade 
it  by  choosing  another  road. 

Wilhelm  alone,  not  participating  in  the  panic,  re- 
garded it  as  mean  to  abandon,  for  the  sake  of  mere 
rumours,  a  plan  they  had  not  entered  on  without  much 
thought.  He  endeavoured  to  put  heart  into  them  :  his 
reasons  were  manly  and  convincing. 

"  It  is  but  a  rumour,"  he  observed  ;  "  and  how  many 
such  arise  in  time  of  war !  Well-informed  people  say 
that  the  occurrence  is  exceedingly  improbable,  nay, 
almost  impossible.  Shall  we,  in  so  important  a  matter, 
allow  a  vague  report  to  determine  our  proceedings  ? 
The  route  pointed  out  to  us  by  the  count,  and  to  which 
our  passport  was  adapted,  is  the  shortest  and  in  the 
best  condition.  It  leads  us  to  the  town,  where  you  see 
acquaintances,  friends,  before  you,  and  may  hope  for  a 
good  reception.  The  other  way  will  also  bring  us 
thither ;  but  by  what  a  circuit,  and  along  what  miser- 
able roads !  Have  we  any  right  to  hope,  that,  in  this 
late  season  of  the  year,  we  shall  get  on  at  all  ?  and 
what  time  and  money  shall  we  squander  in  the  mean- 
while ! "  He  added  many  more  considerations,  present- 
ing the  matter  on  so  many  advantageous  sides,  that 
their  fear  began  to  dissipate,  and  their  courage  to 
increase.  He  talked  to  them  so  much  about  the  disci- 
pline of  regular  troops,  he  painted  the  marauders  and 
wandering  rabble  so  contemptuously,  and  represented 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  273 

the  danger  itself  as  so  pleasant  and  inspiring,  that  the 
spirits  of  the  party  were  altogether  cheered. 

Laertes  from  the  first  had  been  of  his  opinion :  he 
now  declared  that  he  would  not  flinch  or  fail.  Old  Bois- 
terous found  a  consenting  phrase  or  two  to  utter,  in 
his  own  vein ;  Philina  laughed  at  them  all ;  and  Madam 
Melina,  who,  notwithstanding  her  advanced  state  of 
pregnancy,  had  lost  nothing  of  her  natural  stout-heart- 
edness,  regarded  the  proposal  as  heroic.  Herr  Melina, 
moved  by  this  harmonious  feeling,  hoping  also  to  save 
somewhat  by  travelling  the  short  road  which  had  been 
first  contemplated,  did  not  withstand  the  general  con- 
sent ;  and  the  project  was  agreed  to  with  universal 
alacrity. 

They  next  began  to  make  some  preparations  for  de- 
fence at  all  hazards.  They  bought  large  hangers,  and 
slung  them  in  well-quilted  straps  over  their  shoulders. 
Wilhelm  further  stuck  a  pair  of  pistols  in  his  girdle. 
Laertes,  independently  of  this  occurrence,  had  a  good 
gun.     They  all  took  the  road  in  the  highest  glee. 

On  the  second  day  of  their  journey,  the  drivers,  who 
knew  the  country  well,  proposed  to  take  their  noon's 
rest  in  a  certain  woody  spot  of  the  hills ;  since  the 
town  was  far  off,  and  in  good  weather  the  hill-road 
was  generally  preferred. 

The  day  being  beautiful,  all  easily  agreed  to  the 
proposal.  Wilhelm,  on  foot,  went  on  before  them 
through  the  hills  ;  making  every  one  that  met  him  stare 
with  astonishment  at  his  singular  figure.  He  hastened 
with  quick  and  contented  steps  across  the  forest ; 
Laertes  walked  whistling  after  him ;  none  but  the 
women  continued  to  be  dragged  along  in  the  carriages. 
Miguon,  too,  ran  forward  by  his  side,  proud  of  the 
hanger,  which,  when  the  party  were  all  arming,  she 
would  not  go  without.  Around  her  hat  she  had  bound 
the  pearl  necklace,  one  of  Mariana's  relics,  which  Wil- 
helm still  possessed.     Friedrich,  the    fair-haired   boy, 


274  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

carried  Laertes's  gun.  The  harper  had  the  most  pacific 
look ;  his  long  cloak  was  tucked  up  within  his  girdle, 
to  let  him  walk  more  freely ;  he  leaned  upon  a  knotty 
staff;  his  harp  had  been  left  behind  him  in  the  car- 
riage. 

Immediately  on  reaching  the  summit  of  the  height, 
a  task  not  without  its  difficulties,  our  party  recognised 
the  appointed  spot,  by  the  fine  beech-trees  which  encir- 
cled and  screened  it.  A  spacious  green,  sloping  softly 
in  the  middle  of  the  forest,  invited  one  to  tarry;  a 
trimly  bordered  well  offered  the  most  gi-ateful  refresh- 
ment ;  and  on  the  farther  side,  through  chasms  in  the 
mountains,  and  over  the  tops  of  the  w^oods,  appeared  a 
landscape  distant,  lovely,  full  of  hope.  Hamlets  and 
mills  were  lying  in  the  bottoms,  villages  upon  the 
plain:  and  a  new  chain  of  mountains,  visible  in  the 
distance,  made  the  prospect  still  more  significant  of 
hope ;  for  they  entered  only  like  a  soft  limitation. 

The  first  comers  took  possession  of  the  place,  rested 
awhile  in  the  shade,  lighted  a  fire,  and  so  awaited, 
singing  as  they  worked,  the  remainder  of  the  party, 
who  by  degrees  arrived,  and  with  one  accord  saluted 
the  place,  the  lovely  weather,  and  still  lovelier  scene. 


CHAPTEE  V. 

If  our  friends  had  frequently  enjoyed  a  good  and 
merry  hour  together  while  within  four  walls,  they  were 
naturally  much  gayer  here,  where  the  freedom  of  the 
sky  and  the  beauty  of  the  place  seemed,  as  it  were,  to 
purify  the  feelings  of  every  one.  All  felt  nearer  to  each 
other:  all  wished  that  they  might  pass  their  whole 
lives  in  so  pleasant  an  abode.  They  envied  hunters,  char- 
coal-men, and  wood-cutters,  —  people  whom  theh  call- 
ing constantly  retains  in  such  happy  places,  —  but 
prized,  above  all,  the  delicious  economy  of  a  band  of 
gypsies.  They  envied  these  wonderful  companions, 
entitled  to  enjoy  in  bhssful  idleness  all  the  adventur- 
ous charms  of  nature :  they  rejoiced  at  being  in  some 
degree  hke  them. 

Meanwhile  the  women  had  begun  to  boil  potatoes, 
and  to  unwrap  and  get  ready  the  'victuals  brought 
along  with  them.  Some  pots  were  standing  by  the 
fire.  The  party  had  placed  themselves  in  groups,  under 
the  trees  and  bushes.  Their  singular  apparel,  their 
various  weapons,  gave  them  a  foreign  aspect.  The 
horses  were  eating  their  provender  at  a  side.  Could 
one  have  concealed  the  coaches,  the  look  of  this  little 
horde  would  have  been  romantic,  even  to  complete 
illusion. 

Wilhelm  enjoyed  a  pleasure  he  had  never  felt  before. 
He  could  now  imagine  his  present  company  to  be  a 
wandering  colony,  and  himself  the  leader  of  it.  In 
this  character  he  talked  with  those  around  him,  and 
figured  out  the  fantasy  of  the  moment  as  poetically  as 
he  could.     The  feelings  of  the  party  rose  in  cheerful- 

275 


276  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

ness :  they  ate  and  drank  and  made  merry,  and  re- 
peatedly declared  that  they  had  never  passed  more 
pleasant  moments. 

Their  contentment  had  not  long  gone  on  increasing, 
till  activity  awoke  among  the  younger  part  of  them. 
Wilhelm  and  Laertes  seized  their  rapiers,  and  began  to 
practise  on  this  occasion  with  theatrical  intentions. 
They  undertook  to  represent  the  duel  in  which  Hamlet 
and  his  adversary  find  so  tragical  an  end.  Both  were 
persuaded,  that,  in  this  powerful  scene,  it  was  not 
enough  merely  to  keep  pushing  awkwardly  hither  and 
thither,  as  it  is  generally  exhibited  in  theatres :  they 
were  in  hopes  to  show  by  example  how,  in  presenting 
it,  a  worthy  spectacle  might  also  be  afforded  to  the  critic 
in  the  art  of  fencing.  The  rest  made  a  circle  round 
them.  Both  fought  with  skill  and  ardour.  The  inter- 
est of  the  spectators  rose  higher  every  pass. 

But  all  at  once,  in  the  nearest  bush,  a  .shot  went  off, 
and  immediately  another ;  and  the  party  flew  asunder 
in  terror.  Next  moment  armed  men  were  to  be  seen 
pressing  forward  to  the  spot  where  the  horses  were  eat- 
ing their  fodder,  not  far  from  the  coaches  that  were 
packed  with  luggage. 

A  universal  scream  proceeded  from  the  women :  our 
heroes  threw  away  their  rapiers,  seized  their  pistols, 
and  ran  toward  the  robbers ;  demanding,  with  \dolent 
threats,  the  meaning  of  such  conduct. 

This  question  being  answered  laconically,  with  a 
couple  of  musket-shots,  Wilhelm  fired  his  pistol  at  a 
crisp-headed  knave,  who  had  got  upon  the  top  of  the 
coach,  and  was  cutting  the  cords  of  the  package. 
Eightly  hit,  this  artist  instantly  came  tumbling  down ; 
nor  had  Laertes  missed.  Both,  encouraged  by  success, 
drew  their  side-arms ;  when  a  number  of  the  plunder- 
ing party  rushed  out  upon  them,  with  curses  and  loud 
bellowing,  fired  a  few  shots  at  them,  and  fronted  their 
impetuosity  with  glittering  sabres.     Our  young  heroes 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  277 

made  a  bold  resistance.  They  called  upon  theii-  other 
comrades,  and  endeavoured  to  excite  them  to  a  general 
resistance.  But,  erelong,  Wilhelm  lost  the  sight  of  day, 
and  the  consciousness  of  what  was  passing.  Stupefied 
by  a  shot  that  wounded  him  between  the  breast  and 
the  left  arm,  by  a  stroke  that  split  his  hat  in  two,  and 
almost  penetrated  to  his  brain,  he  sank  down,  and  only 
by  the  narratives  of  others  came  afterward  to  under- 
stand the  luckless  end  of  this  adventure. 

On  again  opening  his  eyes,  he  found  himself  in  the 
strangest  posture.  The  first  thing  that  pierced  the 
dimness,  which  yet  swam  before  his  vision,  was  Phi- 
lina's  face  bent  down  over  his.  He  felt  w^eak,  and, 
making  a  movement  to  rise,  discovered  that  he  was  in 
Philina's  lap ;  into  which,  indeed,  he  again  sank  down. 
She  was  sitting  on  the  sward.  She  had  softly  pressed 
toward  her  the  head  of  the  fallen  young  man,  and 
made  for  him  an  easy  couch,  as  far  as  in  her  power. 
Mignon  was  kneeling  with  dishevelled  and  bloody  hair 
at  his  feet,  which  she  embraced  with  many  tears. 

On  noticing  his  bloody  clothes,  Wilhelm  asked,  in 
a  broken  voice,  where  he  was,  and  what  had  happened 
to  him  and  the  rest.  Philina  begged  him  to  be  quiet : 
the  others,  she  said,  were  all  in  safety,  and  none  but 
he  and  Laertes  wounded.  Further  she  would  tell  him 
nothing,  but  earnestly  entreated  him  to  keep  still,  as 
his  wounds  had  been  but  slightly  and  hastily  bound. 
He  stretched  out  his  hand  to  Mignon,  and  inquired 
about  the  bloody  locks  of  the  child,  who  he  supposed 
was  also  wounded. 

For  the  sake  of  quietness,  Philina  let  him  know  that 
this  true-hearted  creature,  seeing  her  friend  wounded, 
and  in  the  hurry  of  the  instant  being  able  to  think  of 
nothing  which  would  staunch  the  blood,  had  taken  her 
own  hair,  that  was  flowing  round  her  head,  and  tried 
to  stop  the  wounds  with  it,  but  had  soon  been  obliged 
to  give  up  the  vain  attempt ;  that  afterward  they  had 


278  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

bound  him  with  moss  and  dry  mushrooms,  Philina 
giving  up  her  neckerchief  for  that  purpose. 

Wilhelm  noticed  that  Phihna  was  sitting  with  her 
back  against  her  own  trunk,  which  still  looked  firmly 
locked  and  quite  uninjured.  He  inquired  if  the  rest 
also  had  been  so  lucky  as  to  save  their  goods.  She 
answered  with  a  shrug  of  the  shoulders,  and  a  look 
over  the  green,  where  broken  chests,  and  coffers  beaten 
into  fragments,  and  knapsacks  ripped  up,  and  a  multi- 
tude of  little  wares,  lay  scattered  all  round.  No  per- 
son was  to  be  seen  in  the  place,  this  strange  group  thus 
being  alone  in  the  solitude. 

Inquiring  further,  our  friend  learned  more  and  more 
particulars.  The  rest  of  the  men,  it  appeared,  who,  at 
all  events,  might  still  have  made  resistance,  were  struck 
with  terror,  and  soon  overpowered.  Some  fled,  some 
looked  with  horror  at  the  accident.  The  drivers,  for 
the  sake  of  their  cattle,  had  held  out  more  obstinately; 
but  they,  too,  were  at  last  thrown  down  and  tied; 
after  which,  in  a  few  minutes,  everything  was  thor- 
oughly ransacked,  and  the  booty  carried  off.  The 
hapless  travellers,  their  fear  of  death  being  over,  had 
begun  to  mourn  their  loss ;  had  hastened  with  the 
greatest  speed  to  the  neighbouring  village,  taking  with 
them  Laertes,  whose  wounds  were  slight,  and  carrying 
off  but  a  very  few  fragments  of  their  property.  The 
harper,  having  placed  his  damaged  instrument  against 
a  tree,  had  proceeded  in  their  company  to  the  place,  to 
seek  a  surgeon,  and  return  with  his  utmost  rapidity  to 
help  his  benefactor,  whom  he  had  left  apparently  upon 
the  brink  of  death. 


CHAPTER  VL 

Meanwhile  our  three  adventurers  continued  yet  a 
space  in  their  strange  position,  no  one  returning  to 
their  aid.  Evening  was  advancing:  the  darkness 
threatened  to  come  on.  Phihna's  indifference  was 
changing  to  anxiety ;  Mignon  ran  to  and  fro,  her  im- 
patience increasing  every  moment ;  and  at  last,  when 
their  prayer  was  gi-anted,  and  human  creatures  did  ap- 
proach, a  new  alarm  fell  upon  them.  They  distinctly 
heard  a  troop  of  horses  coming  up  the  road  they  had 
lately  travelled :  they  dreaded  lest  a  second  time  some 
company  of  unbidden  gTiests  might  be  purposing  to  visit 
this  scene  of  battle,  and  gather  up  the  gleanings. 

The  more  agreeable  was  their  surprise,  when,  after  a 
few  moments,  a  lady  issued  from  the  thickets,  riding 
on  a  gray  courser,  and  accompanied  by  an  elderly 
gentleman  and  some  cavaliers,  followed  by  grooms, 
servants,  and  a  troop  of  hussars. 

Philina  started  at  this  phenomenon,  and  was  about 
to  call,  and  entreat  the  fair  Amazon  for  help,  when  the 
latter  turned  her  astonished  eyes  on  the  group,  in- 
stantly checked  her  horse,  rode  up  to  them,  and  halted. 
She  inquired  eagerly  about  the  wounded  man,  whose 
posture  in  the  lap  of  this  light-minded  Samaritan 
seemed  to  strike  her  as  peculiarly  strange. 

"  Is  he  your  husband  ? "  she  inquired  of  Philina. 
"  Only  a  friend,"  replied  the  other,  with  a  tone  Wilhelm 
liked  not  at  all.  He  had  fixed  his  eyes  upon  the  soft, 
elevated,  calm,  sympathising  features  of  the  stranger : 
he  thought  he  had  never  seen  aught  nobler  or  more 
lovely.     Her  shape  he  could  not  see :  it  was  hid  by  a 

279 


28o  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

man's  white  greatcoat,  which  she  seemed  to  have 
borrowed  from  some  of  her  attendants,  to  screen  her 
from  the  chill  evening  air. 

By  this  the  horsemen  also  had  come  near.  Some  of 
them  dismounted :  the  lady  did  so  likewise.  She  asked, 
with  humane  sympathy,  concerning  every  circumstance 
of  the  mishap  which  had  befallen  the  travellers,  but 
especially  concerning  the  wounds  of  the  poor  youth 
who  lay  before  her.  Thereupon  she  turned  quickly 
round,  and  went  aside  with  the.  old  gentleman  to  some 
carriages,  which  were  slowly  coming  up  the  hill,  and 
which  at  length  stopped  upon  the  scene  of  action. 

The  young  lady  having  stood  with  her  conductor 
a  short  time  at  the  door  of  one  of  the  coaches,  and 
talked  with  the  people  in  it,  a  man  of  a  squat  figure 
stepped  out,  and  came  along  with  them  to  our  wounded 
hero.  By  the  little  box  which  he  held  in  his  hand, 
and  the  leathern  pouch  with  instruments  in  it,  you 
soon  recognised  him  for  a  surgeon.  His  manners  were 
rude  rather  than  attractive ;  but  his  hand  was  light, 
and  his  help  welcome. 

Having  examined  strictly,  he  declared  that  none  of 
the  wounds  were  dangerous.  He  would  dress  them, 
he  said,  on  the  spot ;  after  which  the  patient  might  be 
carried  to  the  nearest  village. 

The  young  lady's  anxiety  seemed  to  augment.  "  Do 
but  look,"  she  said,  after  going  to  and  fro  once  or  twice, 
and  again  bringing  the  old  gentleman  to  the  place : 
"  look  how  they  have  treated  him !  And  is  it  not  on 
our  account  that  he  is  suffering  ? "  Wilhelm  heard 
these  words,  but  did  not  understand  them.  She  went 
restlessly  up  and  down :  it  seemed  as  if  she  could  not 
tear  herself  away  from  the  presence  of  the  wounded 
man ;  while  at  the  same  time  she  feared  to  violate 
decorum  by  remaining,  when  they  had  begun,  though 
not  without  difficulty,  to  remove  some  part  of  his  ap- 
parel.    The  surgeon  was  just  cutting  off  the  left  sleeve 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  281 

of  his  patient's  coat,  when  the  old  gentleman  came 
near,  and  represented  to  the  lady,  in  a  serious  tone,  the 
necessity  of  proceeding  on  their  journey.  Wilhelm 
kept  his  eyes  bent  on  her,  and  was  so  enchanted  with 
her  looks,  that  he  scarcely  felt  what  he  was  suffering 
or  doing. 

Philina,  in  the  meantime,  had  risen  to  kiss  the  lady's 
hand.  While  they  stood  beside  each  other,  Wilhelm 
thought  he  had  never  seen  such  a  contrast.  Phihna 
had  never  till  now  appeared  in  so  unfavourable  a 
light.  She  had  no  right,  as  it  seemed  to  him,  to  come 
near  that  noble  creature,  still  less  to  touch  her. 

The  lady  asked  Philina  various  things,  but  in  an 
undertone.  At  length  she  turned  to  the  old  gentle- 
man, and  said,  "  Dear  uncle,  may  I  be  generous  at  your 
expense  ? "  She  took  off  the  gi-eatcoat,  with  the  visi- 
ble intention  to  give  it  to  the  stripped  and  wounded 
youth. 

Wilhelm,  whom  the  healing  look  of  her  eyes  had 
hitherto  held  fixed,  was  now,  as  the  surtout  fell  away, 
astonished  at  her  lovely  figure.  She  came  near,  and 
softly  laid  the  coat  above  him.  At  this  moment,  as  he 
tried  to  open  his  mouth  and  stammer  out  some  words 
of  gratitude,  the  lively  impression  of  her  presence 
worked  so  strongly  on  his  senses,  already  caught  and 
bewildered,  that  all  at  once  it  appeared  to  him  as  if 
her  head  were  encircled  with  rays ;  and  a  glancing 
light  seemed  by  degrees  to  spread  itself  over  all  her 
form.  At  this  moment  the  surgeon,  making  prepara- 
tions to  extract  the  ball  from  his  wound,  gave  him  a 
sharper  twinge ;  the  angel  faded  away  from  the  eyes 
of  the  fainting  patient ;  he  lost  all  consciousness ;  and, 
on  returning  to  himself,  the  horsemen  and  coaches, 
the  fair  one  with  her  attendants,  had  vanished  like  a 
dream. 


CHAPTEE   VII. 

Wilhelm's  wounds  once  dressed,  and  his  clothes 
put  on,  the  surgeon  hastened  off,  just  as  the  harper 
with  a  number  of  peasants  arrived.  Out  of  some  cut 
boughs,  which  they  speedily  wattled  with  twigs,  a  kind 
of  litter  was  constructed,  upon  which  they  placed  the 
wounded  youth,  and  under  the  conduct  of  a  mounted 
huntsman,  whom  the  noble  company^  had  left  behind 
them,  carried  him  softly  down  the  mountain.  The 
harper,  silent,  and  shrouded  in  his  own  thoughts,  bore 
with  him  his  broken  instrument.  Some  men  brought 
on  Philina's  box,  herself  following  with  a  bundle. 
Mignon  skipped  along  through  copse  and  thicket,  now 
before  the  party,  now  beside  them,  and  looked  up  with 
longing  eyes  at  her  hurt  protector. 

He,  meanwhile,  wrapped  in  his  warm  surtout,  was 
lying  peacefully  upon  the  litter.  An  electric  warmth 
seemed  to  flow  from  the  fine  wool  into  his  body :  in 
short,  he  felt  in  the  most  delightful  frame  of  mind. 
The  lovely  being,  whom  this  garment  lately  covered, 
had  affected  him  to  the  very  heart.  He  still  saw  the 
coat  falling  down  from  her  shoulders ;  saw  that  noble 
form,  begirt  with  radiance,  stand  beside  him ;  and  his 
soul  hied  over  rocks  and  forests  on  the  footsteps  of 
his  vanished  benefactress. 

It  was  nightfall  when  the  party  reached  the  village, 
and  halted  at  the  door  of  the  inn  where  the  rest  of  the 
company,  in  the  gloom  of  despondency,  were  bewailing 
their  irreparable  loss.  The  one  little  chamber  of  the 
house  was  crammed  with  people.  Some  of  them  were 
lying  upon  straw,  some  were  occupying  benches,  some 

282 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  283 

had  squeezed  themselves  behind  the  stove.  Frau 
Mehna,  in  a  neighbouring  room,  was  painfully  ex- 
pecting her  delivery.  Fright  had  accelerated  this 
event.  With  the  sole  assistance  of  the  landlady,  a 
young,  inexperienced  woman,  nothing  good  could  be 
expected. 

As  the  party  just  arrived  required  admission,  there 
arose  a  universal  murmur.  All  now  maintained,  that 
by  Wilhelm's  advice  alone,  and  under  his  especial 
guidance,  they  had  entered  on  this  dangerous  road,  and 
exposed  themselves  to  such  misfortunes.  They  threw 
the  blame  of  the  disaster  wholly  on  him :  they  stuck 
themselves  in  the  door,  to  oppose  his  entrance ;  de- 
claring that  he  must  go  elsewhere  and  seek  quarters. 
Philina  they  received  with  still  greater  indignation, 
nor  did  Mignon  and  the  harper  escape  their  share. 

The  huntsman,  to  whom  the  care  of  the  forsaken 
party  had  been  earnestly  and  strictly  recommended  by 
his  beautiful  mistress,  soon  grew  tired  of  this  dis- 
cussion :  he  rushed  upon  the  company  with  oaths  and 
menaces ;  commanding  them  to  fall  to  the  right  and 
left,  and  make  way  for  this  new  arrival.  They  now 
began  to  pacify  themselves.  He  made  a  place  for 
Wilhelm  on  a  table,  which  he  shoved  into  a  corner; 
Philina  had  her  box  put  there,  and  then  sat  down  upon 
it.  All  packed  themselves  as  they  best  could,  and  the 
huntsman  went  away  to  see  if  he  could  not  find  for 
"  the  young  couple  "  a  more  convenient  lodging. 

Scarcely  was  he  gone,  when  spite  again  grew  noisy, 
and  one  reproach  began  to  follow  close  upon  another. 
Each  described  and  magnified  his  loss,  censuring  the 
foolhardiness  they  had  so  keenly  smarted  for.  They 
did  not  even  hide  the  malicious  satisfaction  they  felt 
at  Wilhelm's  wounds :  they  jeered  Philina,  and  im- 
puted to  her  as  a  crime  the  means  by  which  she  had 
saved  her  trunk.  From  a  multitude  of  gibes  and  bitter 
innuendoes,  you  were  required  to  conclude,  that,  during 


284  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

the  plundering  and  discomfiture,  she  had  endeavoured 
to  worlv  herself  into  favour  with  the  captain  of  the 
band,  and  had  persuaded  him,  Heaven  knew  by  what 
arts  and  complaisance,  to  give  her  back  the  chest  un- 
hurt. To  all  this  she  answered  nothing,  only  clanked 
with  the  large  padlocks  of  her  box,  to  impress  her 
censurers  completely  with  its  presence,  and  by  her  own 
good  fortune  to  augment  their  desperation. 


CHAPTEE  VIII. 

Though  our  friend  was  weak  from  loss  of  blood, 
and  though,  ever  since  the  appearance  of  that  helpful 
angel,  his  feelings  had  been  soft  and  mild,  yet  at  last 
he  could  not  help  getting  vexed  at  the  harsh  and  un- 
just speeches  which,  as  he  continued  silent,  the  dis- 
contented company  went  on  uttering  against  him. 
Feeling  himself  strong  enough  to  sit  up,  and  expostu- 
late on  the  annoyance  they  were  causing  to  their  friend 
and  leader,  he  raised  his  bandaged  head,  and  propping 
himself  with  some  difficulty,  and  leaning  against  the 
wall,  he  began  to  speak  as  follows : 

"  Considering  the  pain  your  losses  occasion,  I  forgive 
you  for  assailing  me  with  injuries  at  a  moment  when 
you  should  condole  with  me ;  for  opposing  and  casting 
me  from  you  the  first  time  I  have  needed  to  look  to 
you  for  help.  The  services  I  did  you,  the  complais- 
ance I  showed  you,  I  regarded  as  sufficiently  repaid  by 
your  thanks,  by  your  friendly  conduct :  do  not  warp 
my  thoughts,  do  not  force  my  heart  to  go  back  and 
calculate  what  I  have  done  for  you;  the  calculation 
would  be  painful  to  me.  Chance  brought  me  near 
you,  circumstances  and  a  secret  inclination  kept  me 
with  you.  I  participated  in  your  labours  and  your 
pleasures :  my  slender  abilities  were  ever  at  your 
service.  If  you  now  blame  me  with  bitterness  for  the 
mishap  that  has  befallen  us,  you  do  not  recollect  that 
the  first  project  of  taking  this  road  came  to  us  from 
stranger  people,  was  weighed  by  all  of  you,  and  sanc- 
tioned by  every  one  as  well  as  by  me. 

"  Had  our  journey  ended  happily,  each  would  have 

285 


286  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

taken  credit  to  himself  for  the  happy  thought  of  sug- 
gesting this  plan,  and  preferring  it  to  others;  each 
would  joyfully  have  put  us  in  mind  of  our  delibera- 
tions, and  of  the  vote  he  gave :  but  now  you  make  me 
alone  responsible ;  you  force  a  piece  of  blame  upon  me, 
which  I  would  willingly  submit  to,  if  my  conscience, 
with  a  clear  voice,  did  not  pronounce  me  innocent,  nay, 
if  I  might  not  appeal  with  safety  even  to  yourselves. 
If  you  have  aught  to  say  against  me,  bring  it  forward 
in  order,  and  I  shall  defend  myself;  if  you  have 
nothing  reasonable  to  allege,  then  be  silent,  and  do  not 
torment  me  now,  when  I  have  such  pressing  need  of 
rest." 

By  way  of  answer,  the  girls  once  more  began  whim- 
pering and  whining,  and  describing  their  losses  cir- 
cumstantially. Melina  was  quite  beside  himself;  for 
he  had  suffered  more  in  purse  than  any  of  them, — 
more,  indeed,  than  we  can  rightly  estimate.  He 
stamped  like  a  madman  up  and  down  the  little  room, 
he  knocked  his  head  against  the  wall,  he  swore  and 
scolded  in  the  most  unseemly  manner ;  and  the  land- 
lady entering  at  this  very  time  with  news  that  his 
wife  had  been  delivered  of  a  dead  child,  he  yielded  to 
the  most  furious  ebulhtions ;  while,  in  accordance  with 
him,  all  howded  and  shrieked,  and  bellowed  and  up- 
roared,  with  double  vigour. 

Wilhelm,  touched  to  the  heart  at  the  same  time  with 
sympathy  for  their  sorrows  and  with  vexation  at  their 
mean  way  of  thinking,  felt  all  the  vigour  of  his  soul 
awakened,  notwithstanding  the  weakness  of  his  body. 
"  Deyjlorable  as  your  case  may  be,"  exclaimed  he,  "  I 
shall  almost  be  compelled  to  despise  you!  No  mis- 
fortune gives  us  right  to  load  an  innocent  man  with 
reproaches.  If  I  had  share  in  this  false  step,  am  not  I 
suffering  my  share?  I  lie  wounded  here;  and,  if  the 
company  has  come  to  loss,  I  myself  have  come  to  most. 
The  wardrobe  of   which  we   have   been   robbed,  the 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  287 

decorations  that  are  gone,  were  mine;  for  you,  Herr 
Melina,  have  not  yet  paid  me ;  and  I  here  fully  acquit 
you  of  all  obhgation  in  that  matter." 

"  It  is  well  to  give  what  none  of  us  will  ever  see 
again,"  replied  Melina.  "  Your  money  was  lying  in  my 
wife's  coffer,  and  it  is  your  own  blame  that  you  have 
lost  it.  But,  ah !  if  that  were  all ! "  And  thereupon 
he  began  anew  to  stamp  and  scold  and  squeal.  Every 
one  recalled  to  memory  the  superb  clothes  from  the 
count's  wardrobe;  the  buckles,  watches,  snuff-boxes, 
hats,  for  which  Mehna  had  so  happily  transacted  with 
the  head  valet.  Each,  then,  thought  also  of  his  own, 
though  far  inferior,  treasures.  They  looked  with 
spleen  at  Philina's  box,  and  gave  Wilhelm  to  under- 
stand that  he  had  indeed  done  wisely  to  connect  him- 
self with  that  fair  personage,  and  to  save  his  own  goods 
also,  under  the  shadow  of  her  fortune. 

"  Do  you  think,"  he  exclaimed  at  last,  "  that  I  shall 
keep  anything  apart  while  you  are  starving  ?  And  is 
this  the  first  time  I  have  honestly  shared  with  you  in 
a  season  of  need  ?  Open  the  trunk :  all  that  is  mine 
shall  go  to  supply  the  common  wants." 

"  It  is  my  trunk,"  observed  Philina,  "  and  I  will  not 
open  it  till  I  please.  Your  rag  or  two  of  clothes,  which 
I  have  saved  for  you,  could  amount  to  little,  though 
they  were  sold  to  the  most  conscientious  of  Jews. 
Think  of  yourself,  —  what  your  cure  will  cost,  what 
may  befall  you  in  a  strange  country." 

"  You,  Phihna,"  answered  Wilhelm,  "  will  keep  back 
from  me  nothing  that  is  mine ;  and  that  little  will  help 
us  out  of  the  first  perplexity.  But  a  man  possesses 
many  things  besides  coined  money  to  assist  his  friends 
with.  All  that  is  in  me  shall  be  devoted  to  these 
hapless  persons,  who,  doubtless,  on  returning  to  their 
senses,  will  repent  their  present  conduct.  Yes,"  con- 
tinued he,  "I  feel  that  you  have  need  of  help;  and, 
what  is  mine  to  do,  I  will  perform.     Give  me  your 


288  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

confidence  again;  compose  yourselves  for  a  moment, 
and  accept  of  what  I  promise.  Who  will  receive  the 
engagement  of  me  in  the  name  of  all  ? " 

Here  he  stretched  out  his  hand,  and  cried,  "  I 
promise  not  to  flinch  from  you,  never  to  forsake  you 
till  each  shall  see  his  losses  doubly  and  trebly  repaired ; 
till  the  situation  you  are  fallen  into,  by  whose  blame 
soever,  shall  be  totally  forgotten  by  all  of  you,  and 
changed  with  a  better." 

He  kept  his  hand  still  stretched  out,  but  no  one 
would  take  hold  of  it.  "  I  promise  it  again,"  cried  he, 
sinking  back  upon  his  pillow.  All  continued  silent: 
they  felt  ashamed,  but  nothing  comforted :  and  Philina, 
sitting  on  her  chest,  kept  cracking  nuts,  a  stock  of 
which  she  had  discovered  in  her  pocket. 


CHAPTEE  IX. 

The  huntsman  now  came  back  with  several  people, 
and  made  preparations  for  carrying  away  the  wounded 
youth.  He  had  persuaded  the  parson  of  the  place  to 
receive  the  "  young  couple  "  into  his  house ;  Philina's 
trunk  was  taken  out;  she  followed  with  a  natural  air 
of  dignity.  Mignon  ran  before  ;  and,  when  the  patient 
reached  the  parsonage,  a  wide  couch,  which  had  long 
been  standing  ready  as  guest's  bed  and  bed  of  honour, 
was  assigned  him.  Here  it  was  first  discovered  that 
his  wound  had  opened,  and  bled  profusely.  A  new 
bandage  was  required  for  it.  He  fell  into  a  feverish 
state :  Philina  waited  on  him  faithfully ;  and,  when 
fatigue  overpowered  her,  she  was  relieved  by  the 
harper.  Mignon,  with  the  firmest  purpose  to  watch, 
had  fallen  asleep  in  a  corner. 

Next  morning  Wilhelm,  who  felt  himself  in  some 
degree  refreshed,  learned,  by  inquiring  of  the  hunts- 
man, that  the  honourable  persons  who  last  night 
assisted  him  so  nobly,  had  shortly  before  left  their 
estates,  in  order  to  avoid  the  movements  of  the  con- 
tending armies,  and  remain,  till  the  time  of  peace,  in 
some  more  quiet  district.  He  named  the  elderly 
nobleman,  as  well  as  his  niece,  mentioned  the  place 
they  were  first  going  to,  and  told  how  the  young  lady 
had  charged  him  to  take  care  of  "Wilhelm. 

The  entrance  of  the  surgeon  interrupted  the  warm 
expressions  of  gratitude  our  friend  was  giving  vent  to. 
He  made  a  circumstantial  description  of  the  wounds, 
and  certified  that  they  would  soon  heal,  if  the  patient 
took  care  of  them,  and  kept  himself  at  peace. 

289 


290  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

When  the  huntsman  was  gone,  Philina  signified  that 
he  had  left  with  her  a  purse  of  twenty  louis-d'or;  that 
he  had  given  the  parson  a  remuneration  for  their  lodg- 
ing, and  left  with  him  money  to  defray  the  surgeon's 
bill  when  the  cure  should  be  completed.  She  added, 
that  she  herself  passed  everywhere  for  Wilhelm's  wife ; 
that  she  now  begged  leave  to  introduce  herself  once  for 
all  to  him  in  this  capacity,  and  would  not  allow  him  to 
look  out  for  any  other  sick-nurse. 

"  Philina,"  said  Wilhelm,  "  in  this  disaster  that  has 
overtaken  us,  I  am  already  deeply  in  your  debt,  for 
kindness  shown  me ;  and  I  should  not  wish  to  see  my 
obligations  increased.  I  am  uneasy  so  long  as  you  are 
about  me,  for  I  know  of  nothing  by  which  I  can  repay 
your  labour.  Give  me  what  things  of  mine  you  have 
saved  in  your  trunk ;  join  the  rest  of  the  company ; 
seek  another  lodging ;  take  my  thanks,  and  the  gold 
watch  as  a  small  acknowledgment :  only  leave  me ; 
your  presence  disturbs  me  more  than  you  can  fancy." 

She  laughed  in  his  face  when  he  had  ended.  "  Thou 
art  a  fool,"  she  said  :  "  thou  wilt  not  gather  wisdom.  I 
know  better  what  is  good  for  thee :  I  will  stay,  I  will 
not  budge  from  the  spot.  I  have  never  counted  on  the 
gratitude  of  men,  and  therefore  not  on  thine ;  and,  if  I 
have  a  touch  of  kindness  for  thee,  what  hast  thou  to 
do  with  it  ? " 

She  stayed  accordingly,  and  soon  wormed  herself  into 
favour  with  the  parson  and  his  household ;  being 
always  cheerful,  having  the  knack  of  giving  little 
presents,  and  of  talking  to  each  in  his  own  vein ;  at 
the  same  time  always  contriving  to  do  exactly  what 
she  pleased.  Wilhelm's  state  was  not  uncomfortable : 
the  surgeon,  an  ignorant  but  not  unskilful  man,  let 
nature  have  sway;  and  the  patient  was  soon  on  the 
road  to  recovery.  For  such  a  consummation  he  vehe- 
mently longed,  being  eager  to  pursue  his  plans  and 
wishes. 


MEISTER'S  APPRENTICESHIP  291 

Incessantly  he  kept  recalKng  that  event,  which  had 
made  an  ineffaceable  impression  on  his  heart.  He  saw 
the  beautiful  Amazon  again  come  riding  out  of  the 
thickets :  she  approached  him,  dismounted,  went  to 
and  fro,  and  strove  to  serve  him.  He  saw  the  garment 
she  was  wrapped  in  fall  down  from  her  shoulders :  he 
saw  her  countenance,  her  figure,  vanish  in  their  radi- 
ance. All  the  dreams  of  his  youth  now  fastened  on 
this  image.  Here  he  conceived  he  had  at  length 
beheld  the  noble,  the  heroic,  Clorinda  with  his  own 
eyes ;  and  again  he  bethought  him  of  that  royal  youth, 
to  whose  sick-bed  the  lovely,  sympathising  princess 
came  in  her  modest  meekness. 

"  May  it  not  be,"  said  he  often  to  himself  in  secret, 
"  that,  in  youth  as  in  sleep,  the  images  of  coming  things 
hover  round  us,  and  mysteriously  become  visible  to 
our  unobstructed  eyes  ?  May  not  the  seeds  of  what 
is  to  betide  us  be  already  scattered  by  the  hand  of 
Fate  ?  may  not  a  foretaste  of  the  fruits  we  yet  hope  to 
gather  possibly  be  given  us  ? " 

His  sick-bed  gave  him  leisure  to  repeat  those  scenes 
in  every  mood.  A  thousand  times  he  called  back  the 
tone  of  that  sweet  voice :  a  thousand  times  he  envied 
Phihna,  who  had  kissed  that  helpful  hand.  Often  the 
whole  incident ! appeared  before  him  as  a  dream;  and 
he  would  have  reckoned  it  a  fiction,  if  the  white  sur- 
tout  had  not  been  left  behind  to  convince  him  that  the 
vision  had  a  real  existence. 

With  the  greatest  care  for  this  piece  of  apparel,  he 
combined  the  most  ardent  wish  to  wear  it.  The  first 
time  he  arose,  he  put  it  on,  and  was  kept  in  fear  all 
day  lest  it  might  be  hurt  by  some  stain  or  other 
injury. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Laeetes  visited  his  friend.  He  had  not  been  pres- 
ent during  that  lively  scene  at  the  inn,  being  then 
confined  to  bed  in  an  upper  chamber.  For  his  loss  he 
was  already  in  a  great  degree  consoled :  he  helped 
himself  with  his  customary,  "  What  does  it  signify  ? " 
He  detailed  various  laughable  particulars  about  the 
company;  particularly  charging  Frau  Mehna  with 
lamenting  the  loss  of  her  stillborn  daughter,  solely 
because  she  herself  could  not  on  that  account  enjoy 
the  Old-German  satisfaction  of  having  a  Mechthilde 
christened.  As  for  her  husband,  it  now  appeared  that 
he  had  been  possessed  of  abundant  cash,  and  even  at 
first  had  by  no  means  needed  the  advances  which  he 
had  cajoled  from  Wilhelm.  Mehna's  present  plan 
was,  to  set  off  by  the  next  post- wagon,  and  he  meant 
to  require  of  Wilhelm  an  introductory  letter  to  his 
friend.  Manager  Serlo,  in  whose  company,  the  present 
undertaking  having  gone  to  wreck,  he  now  wished  to 
estabhsh  himself. 

For  some  days  Mignon  had  been  singularly  quiet : 
when  pressed  with  questions,  she  at  length  admitted 
that  her  right  arm  was  out  of  joint.  "  Thou  hast  thy 
own  folly  to  thank  for  that,"  observed  Phihna,  and 
then  told  how  the  child  had  drawn  her  sword  in  the 
battle,  and,  seeing  her  friend  in  peril,  had  struck 
fiercely  at  the  freebooters,  one  of  whom  had  at  length 
seized  her  by  the  arm,  and  pitched  her  to  a  side. 
They  chid  her  for  not  sooner  speaking  of  her  ailment ; 
but  they  easily  saw  that  she  was  apprehensive  of  the 
surgeon,  who  had  hitherto  looked  on  her  as  a  boy. 

292 


MEISTER'S  APPRENTICESHIP  293 

With  a  view  to  remove  the  mischief,  she  was  made  to 
keep  her  arm  in  a  sling,  which  arrangement,  too,  dis- 
pleased her ;  for  now  she  was  obliged  to  surrender 
most  part  of  her  share  in  the  management  and  nurs- 
ing of  our  friend  to  Phihna.  That  pleasing  sinner  but 
showed  herself  the  more  active  and  attentive  on  this 
account. 

One  morning,  on  awakening,  Wilhelm  found  himself 
strangely  near  to  her.  In  the  movements  of  sleep,  he 
had  hitched  himself  quite  to  the  back  of  the  spacious 
bed.  Philina  was  lying  across  from  the  front  part  of 
it :  she  seemed  to  have  fallen  asleep  on  the  bed  while 
sitting  there  and  reading.  A  book  had  dropped  from 
her  hand :  she  had  sunk  back  ;  and  her  head  was  lying 
near  his  breast,  over  which  her  fair  and  now  loosened 
hair  was  spread  in  streams.  The  disorder  of  sleep 
enlivened  her  charms  more  than  art  or  purpose  could 
have  done  :  a  childlike  smiling  rest  hovered  on  her 
countenance.  He  looked  at  her  for  a  time,  and  seemed 
to  blame  himself  for  the  pleasure  this  gave  him.  He 
had  viewed  her  attentively  for  some  moments,  when 
she  began  to  awake.  He  softly  closed  his  eyes,  but 
could  not  help  glimmering  at  her  through  his  eye- 
lashes, as  she  trimmed  herself  again,  and  went  aw^ay 
to  see  about  breakfast. 

All  the  actors  had  at  length  successively  announced 
themselves  to  Wilhelm;  asking  introductory  letters, 
requiring  money  for  their  journey  with  more  or  less 
impatience  and  ill-breeding,  and  constantly  receiving 
it,  against  Philina's  will.  It  was  in  vain  for  her  to  tell 
our  friend  that  the  huntsman  had  already  left  a  hand- 
some sum  with  these  people,  and  that  accordingly  they 
did  but  cozen  him.  To  these  remonstrances  he  gave  no 
heed:  on  the  contrary,  the  two  had  a  sharp  quarrel 
about  it ;  which  ended  by  Wilhelm  signifying,  once  for 
all,  that  Phihna  must  now  join  the  rest  of  the  company, 
and  seek  her  fortune  with  Serlo. 


294  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

For  an  instant  or  two  she  lost  temper ;  but,  speedily 
recovering  her  composure,  she  cried,  "  If  I  had  but  my 
fair-hau'ed  boy  again,  I  should  not  care  a  fig  for  any 
of  you."  She  meant  Friedrich,  who  had  vanished 
from  the  scene  of  battle,  and  never  since  appeared. 

Next  morning  Mignon  brought  news  to  the  bedside, 
that  Philina  had  gone  off  by  night;  leaving  all  that 
belonged  to  Wilhelm  very  neatly  laid  out  in  the  next 
room.  He  felt  her  absence ;  he  had  lost  in  her  a 
faithful  nurse,  a  cheerful  companion ;  he  was  no  longer 
used  to  be  alone.  But  Mignon  soon  filled  up  the 
blank. 

Ever  since  that  light-minded  beauty  had  been  near 
the  patient  with  her  friendly  cares,  the  little  creature 
had  by  degrees  drawn  back,  and  remained  silent  and 
secluded  in  herself ;  but,  the  field  being  clear  once 
more,^she  again  came  forth  with  her  attentions  and  her 
love,  again  was  eager  in  serving,  and  lively  in  enter- 
taining, him. 


CHAPTEE  XI. 

WiLHELM  was  rapidly  approaching  complete  re- 
covery :  lie  now  hoped  to  be  upon  his  journey  in  a 
few  days.  He  proposed  no  more  to  lead  an  aimless 
routine  of  existence :  the  steps  of  his  career  were 
henceforth  to  be  calculated  for  an  end.  In  the  first 
place,  he  purposed  to  seek  out  that  beneficent  lady, 
and  express  the  gratitude  he  felt  to  her ;  then  to  pro- 
ceed without  delay  to  his  friend  the  manager,  that  he 
might  do  his  utmost  to  assist  the  luckless  company ; 
intending,  at  the  same  time,  to  visit  the  commercial 
friends  whom  he  had  letters  for,  and  to  transact  the 
business  which  had  been  entrusted  to  him.  He  was 
not  without  hope  that  fortune,  as  formerly,  would 
favour  him,  and  give  him  opportunity,  by  some  lucky 
speculation,  to  repair  his  losses,  and  fill  up  the  vacuity 
of  his  coffer. 

The  desire  of  again  beholding  his  beautiful  deliverer 
augmented  every  day.  To  settle  his  route,  he  took 
counsel  with  the  clergyman,  —  a  person  well  skilled  in 
statistics  and  geography,  and  possessing  a  fine  collection 
of  charts  and  books.  They  two  searched  for  the  place 
which  this  noble  family  had  chosen  as  their  residence 
while  the  war  continued :  they  searched  for  information 
respecting  the  family  itself.  But  their  place  was  to  be 
found  in  no  geography  or  map,  and  the  heraldic 
manuals  made  no  mention  of  their  name. 

Wilhelm  grew  uneasy ;  and,  having  mentioned  the 
cause  of  his  anxiety,  the  harper  told  him  he  had 
reason  to  believe  that  the  huntsman,  from  whatever 
motive,  had  concealed  the  real  designations. 

295 


296  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

Conceiving  himself  now  to  be  in  the  immediate 
neighbourhood  of  his  lovely  benefactress,  Wilhelm  hoped 
he  might  obtain  some  tidings  of  her  if  he  sent  out  the 
harper ;  but  in  this,  too,  he  was  deceived.  Dihgently 
as  the  old  man  kept  inquiring,  he  could  find  no  trace 
of  her.  Of  late  days  a  number  of  quick  movements 
and  unforeseen  marches  had  taken  place  in  that  quar- 
ter; no  one  had  particularly  noticed  the  travelling 
party ;  and  the  ancient  messenger,  to  avoid  being  taken 
for  a  Jewish  spy,  was  obliged  to  return,  and  appear 
without  any  olive-leaf  before  his  master  and  friend. 
He  gave  a  strict  account  of  his  conduct  in  this  com- 
mission, striving  to  keep  far  from  him  all  suspicions  of 
remissness.  He  endeavoured  by  every  means  to  miti- 
gate the  trouble  of  our  friend ;  bethought  him  of  every- 
thing that  he  had  learned  from  the  huntsman,  and 
advanced  a  number  of  conjectures ;  out  of  all  which,  one 
circumstance  at  length  came  to  light,  whereby  Wilhelm 
could  explain  some  enigmatic  words  of  his  vanished 
benefactress. 

The  freebooters,  it  appeared,  had  lain  in  wait,  not  for 
the  wandering  troop,  but  for  that  noble  company,  whom 
they  rightly  guessed  to  be  provided  with  store  of  gold 
and  valuables,  and  of  whose  movements  they  must  have 
had  precise  intelhgence.  Whether  the  attack  should 
be  imputed  to  some  free  corps,  to  marauders,  or  to  rob- 
bers, was  uncertain.  It  was  clear,  however,  that,  by 
good  fortune  for  the  high  and  rich  company,  the  poor 
and  low  had  first  arrived  upon  the  place,  and  undergone 
the  fate  which  was  provided  for  the  others.  It  was  to 
this  that  the  lady's  words  referred,  which  Wilhelm  yet 
well  recollected.  If  he  might  now  be  happy  and  con- 
tented, that  a  prescient  Genius  had  selected  him  for  the 
sacrifice,  which  saved  a  perfect  mortal,  he  was,  on  the 
other  hand,  nigh  desperate,  when  he  thought  that  all 
hope  of  finding  her  and  seeing  her  again  was,  at  least 
for  the  present,  completely  gone. 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  297 

What  increased  this  singular  emotion  still  further, 
was  the  likeness  which  he  thought  he  had  observed 
between  the  countess  and  the  beautiful  unknown. 
They  resembled  one  another  as  two  sisters  may,  of 
whom  neither  can  be  called  the  younger  or  the  elder, 
for  they  seem  to  be  twins. 

The  recollection  of  the  amiable  countess  was  to  Wil- 
helm  infinitely  sweet.  He  recalled  her  image  but  too 
wilhugly  into  his  memory.  But  anon  the  figure  of 
the  noble  Amazon  would  step  between :  one  vision 
melted  and  changed  into  the  other,  and  the  form  of 
neither  would  abide  with  him. 

A  new  resemblance  —  the  similarity  of  their  hand- 
writings —  naturally  struck  him  with  still  greater 
wonder.  He  had  a  charming  song  in  the  countess's 
band  laid  up  in  his  portfolio ;  and  in  the  surtout  he 
had  found  a  little  note,  inquiring  with  much  tender 
care  about  the  health  of  an  uncle. 

Wilhelm  was  convinced  that  his  benefactress  must 
have  penned  this  billet ;  that  it  must  have  been  sent 
from  one  chamber  to  another,  at  some  inn  during  their 
journey,  and  put  into  the  coat  pocket  by  the  uncle. 
He  held  both  papers  together ;  and,  if  the  regular  and 
graceful  letters  of  the  countess  had  already  pleased 
him  much,  he  found  in  the  similar  but  freer  lines  of 
the  stranger  a  flowing  harmony  which  could  not  be 
described.  The  note  contained  nothing ;  yet  the  strokes 
of  it  seemed  to  affect  him,  as  the  presence  of  their  fan- 
cied writer  once  had  done. 

He  fell  into  a  dreamy  longing ;  and  well  accordant 
with  his  feelings  was  the  song  which  at  that  instant 
Mignon  and  the  harper  began  to  sing,  with  a  touching 
expression,  in  the  form  of  an  irregular  duet. 

"  'Tis  biit  who  longing  knows, 
My  grief  can  measure. 
Alone,  reft  of  repose, 
All  joy,  all  pleasure, 


298  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

I  thither  look  to  those 
Soft  lines  of  azure. 
Ah  !  far  is  he  who  knows 
Me,  and  doth  treasure. 
I  faint,  my  bosom  glows 
'Neath  pain's  sore  pressure. 
'Tis  but  who  longing  knows. 
My  grief  can  measure." 

—  Editor's  Version. 


CHAPTER  XIL 

The  soft  allurements  of  his  dear  presiding  angel,  far 
from  leading  our  friend  to  any  one  determined  path, 
did  but  nourish  and  increase  the  unrest  he  had  pre- 
viously experienced.  A  secret  fire  was  gliding  through 
his  veins :  objects  distinct  and  indistinct  alternated 
within  his  soul,  and  awoke  unspeakable  desire.  At 
one  time  he  wished  for  a  horse,  at  another  for  wings ; 
and  not  till  it  seemed  impossible  that  he  could  stay, 
did  he  look  round  him  to  discover  whither  he  was 
wanting  to  go. 

The  threads  of  his  destiny  had  become  so  strangely 
entangled,  he  wished  to  see  its  curious  knots  un- 
ravelled, or  cut  in  two.  Often  when  he  heard  the 
tramp  of  a  horse,  or  the  rolling  of  a  carriage,  he  would 
run  to  the  window,  and  look  out,  in  hopes  it  might  be 
some  one  seeking  him,  —  some  one,  even  though  it 
were  by  chance,  bringing  him  intelligence  and  cer- 
tainty and  joy.  He  told  stories  to  himself,  how  his 
friend  Werner  might  visit  these  parts,  and  come  upon 
him;  how,  perhaps,  Mariana  might  appear.  The 
sound  of  every  post's  horn  threw  him  into  agitation. 
It  would  be  Melina  sending  news  to  him  of  his  adven- 
tures: above  all,  it  would  be  the  huntsman  coming 
back  to  carry  him  to  the  beauty  he  worshipped. 

Of  all  these  possibilities,  unhappily  no  one  occurred : 
he  was  forced  at  last  to  return  to  the  company  of  him- 
self ;  and,  in  again  looking  through  the  past,  there  was 
one  circumstance  which,  the  more  he  viewed  and 
weighed  it,  grew  the  more  offensive  and  intolerable  to 
him.     It  was  his  unprosperous  generalship,  of  which 

299 


300  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

he  never  thought  without  vexation.  For  although,  on 
the  evening  of  that  luckless  day,  he  had  produced  a 
pretty  fair  defence  of  his  conduct  when  accused  by 
the  company,  yet  he  could  not  hide  from  himself  that 
he  was  guilty.  On  the  contrary,  in  hypochondriac 
moments,  he  took  the  blame  of  the  whole  misfortune. 

Self-love  exaggerates  our  faults  as  well  as  our 
virtues.  Wilhelm  thought  he  had  awakened  confi- 
dence in  himself,  had  guided  the  will  of  the  rest ;  that, 
led  by  inexperience  and  rashness,  they  had  ventured 
on,  till  a  danger  seized  them,  for  which  they  were  no 
match.  Loud  as  well  as  silent  reproaches  had  then 
assailed  him ;  and  if,  in  their  sorrowful  condition,  he 
had  promised  the  company,  misguided  by  him,  never 
to  forsake  them  till  their  loss  had  been  repaid  with 
usury,  this  was  but  another  folly  for  which  he  had  to 
blame  himself,  —  the  folly  of  presuming  to  take  upon 
his  single  shoulders  a  misfortune  that  was  spread  over 
many.  One  instant  he  accused  himself  of  uttering 
this  promise,  under  the  excitement  and  the  pressure  of 
the  moment ;  the  next,  he  again  felt  that  this  generous 
presentation  of  his  hand,  which  no  one  deigned  to 
accept,  was  but  a  light  formality  compared  with  the 
vow  his  heart  had  taken.  He  meditated  means  of 
being  kind  and  useful  to  them :  he  found  every  cause 
conspire  to  quicken  his  visit  to  Serlo.  Accordingly  he 
packed  his  things  together;  and  without  waiting  his 
complete  recovery,  without  listening  to  the  counsel  of 
the  parson  or  of  the  surgeon,  he  hastened,  in  the 
strange  society  of  Mignon  and  the  harper,  to  escape 
the  inactivity  in  which  his  fate  had  once  more  too  long 
detained  him. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Seklo  received  him  with  open  arms,  crying  as  he 
met  him,  "  Is  it  you  ?  Do  I  see  you  again  ?  You  have 
scarcely  changed  at  all.  Is  your  love  for  that  noblest 
of  arts  still  as  lively  and  strong?  So  glad  am  I  at 
your  arrival,  that  I  even  feel  no  longer  the  mistrust 
your  last  letters  had  excited  in  me." 

Wilhelm  asked  with  surprise  for  a  clearer  explana- 
tion. 

"  You  have  treated  me,"  said  Serlo,  "  not  like  an  old 
friend,  but  as  if  I  were  a  great  lord,  to  whom  with  a 
safe  conscience  you.  might  recommend  useless  people. 
Our  destiny  depends  on  the  opinion  of  the  public ;  and 
I  fear  Herr  Melina  and  his  suite  can  hardly  be 
received  among  us." 

Wilhelm  tried  to  say  something  in  their  favour ;  but 
Serlo  began  to  draw  so  merciless  a  picture  of  them, 
that  our  friend  was  happy  when  a  lady  came  into  the 
room,  and  put  a  stop  to  the  discussion.  She  was  in- 
troduced to  him  as  Aureha,  the  sister  of  his  friend; 
she  received  him  with  extreme  kindness ;  and  her  con- 
versation was  so  pleasing,  that  he  did  not  even  remark 
a  shade  of  sorrow  visible  on  her  expressive  counte- 
nance, to  which  it  lent  pecuhar  interest. 

For  the  first  time  during  many  months,  Wilhelm 
felt  once  more  in  his  proper  element.  Of  late  in  talk- 
ing, he  had  merely  found  submissive  listeners,  and  even 
these  not  always;  but  now  he  had  the  happiness  to 
speak  with  critics  and  artists,  who  not  only  fully 
understood  him,  but  repaid  his  observations  by  others 
equally  instructive.      With    wonderful   vivacity   they 

301 


302  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

travelled  through  the  latest  plays,  with  wonderful  cor- 
rectness judged  them.  The  decisions  of  the  pubhc 
they  could  try  and  estimate :  they  speedily  threw  hght 
on  each  other's  thoughts. 

Loving  Shakespeare  as  our  friend  did,  he  failed  not 
to  lead  round  the  conversation  to  the  merits  of  that 
dramatist.  Expressing,  as  he  entertained,  the  livehest 
hopes  of  the  new  epoch  which  these  exquisite  produc- 
tions must  form  in  Germany,  he  erelong  introduced  his 
"  Hamlet,"  which  play  had  busied  him  so  much  of  late. 

Serlo  declared  that  he  would  long  ago  have  repre- 
sented the  play,  had  it  at  all  been  possible,  and  that  he 
himself  would  wilhngly  engage  to  act  Polonius.  He 
added,  with  a  smile,  "An  Ophelia,  too,  will  certainly 
turn  up,  if  we  had  but  a  prince." 

Wilhelm  did  not  notice  that  Aurelia  seemed  a  little 
hurt  at  her  brother  s  sarcasm.  Our  friend  was  in  his 
proper  vein,  becoming  copious  and  didactic,  expounding 
how  he  would  have  "  Hamlet "  played.  He  circum- 
stantially delivered  to  his  hearers  the  opinions  we 
before  saw  him  busied  with ;  taking  all  the  trouble 
possible  to  make  his  notion  of  the  matter  acceptable, 
skeptical  as  Serlo  showed  himself  regarding  it.  "  Well, 
then,"  said  the  latter  finally,  "  suppose  we  gi-ant  you  all 
this,  what  will  you  explain  by  it  ?  " 

"  Much,  everything,"  said  "Wilhelm.  "  Conceive  a 
prince  such  as  I  have  painted  him,  and  that  his  father 
suddenly  dies.  Ambition  and  the  love  of  rule  are  not 
the  passions  that  inspire  him.  As  a  king's  son,  he 
would  have  been  contented ;  but  now  he  is  first  con- 
strained to  consider  the  difference  which  separates  a 
sovereign  from  a  subject.  The  crown  was  not  heredi- 
tary ;  yet  his  father's  longer  possession  of  it  would  have 
strengthened  the  pretensions  of  an  only  son,  and 
secured  his  hopes  of  succession.  In  place  of  this,  he 
now  beholds  himself  excluded  by  his  uncle,  in  spite 
of  specious  promises,  most  probably  for  ever.     He  is 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  303 

now  poor  in  goods  and  favour,  and  a  stranger  in  the 
scene  which  from  youth  he  had  looked  upon  as  his 
inheritance.  His  temper  here  assumes  its  first  mourn- 
ful tinge.  He  feels  that  now  he  is  not  more,  that  he 
is  less,  than  a  private  nobleman ;  he  offers  himself  as 
the  servant  of  every  one;  he  is  not  courteous  and 
condescending,  he  is  needy  and  degraded. 

"  His  past  condition  he  remembers  as  a  vanished 
dream.  It  is  in  vain  that  his  uncle  strives  to  cheer 
him,  to  present  his  situation  in  another  point  of  view. 
The  feeling  of  his  nothingness  will  not  leave  him. 

"The  second  stroke  that  came  upon  him  wounded 
deeper,  bowed  still  more.  It  was  the  marriage  of  his 
mother.  The  faithful,  tender  son  had  yet  a  mother, 
when  his  father  passed  away.  He  hoped,  in  the  com- 
pany of  his  surviving  noble-minded  parent,  to  reverence 
the  heroic  form  of  the  departed ;  but  his  mother,  too, 
he  loses ;  and  it  is  something  worse  than  death  that 
robs  him  of  her.  The  trustful  image,  which  a  good 
child  loves  to  form  of  its  parents,  is  gone.  With  the 
dead  there  is  no  help,  on  the  living  no  hold.  More- 
over, she  is  a  woman;  and  her  name  is  Frailty,  like 
that  of  all  her  sex. 

"  Now  only  does  he  feel  completely  bowed  down, 
now  only  orphaned ;  and  no  happiness  of  life  can 
repay  what  he  has  lost.  Not  reflective  or  sorrowful  by 
nature,  reflection  and  sorrow  have  become  for  him  a 
heavy  obligation.  It  is  thus  that  we  see  him  first 
enter  on  the  scene.  I  do  not  think  that  I  have  mixed 
aught  foreign  with  the  play,  or  overcharged  a  single 
feature  of  it." 

Serlo  looked  at  his  sister,  and  said,  "  Did  I  give  thee 
a  false  picture  of  our  friend  ?  He  begins  well :  he  has 
still  many  things  to  tell  us,  many  to  persuade  us  of." 
Wilhelm  asseverated  loudly,  that  he  meant  not  to 
persuade,  but  to  convince :  he  begged  for  another 
moment's  patience. 


304  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

"  Figure  to  yourselves  this  youth,"  cried  he,  "  this 
son  of  princes;  conceive  him  vividly,  bring  his  state 
before  your  eyes,  and  then  observe  him  when  he  learns 
that  his  father's  spirit  walks;  stand  by  him  in  the 
terrors  of  the  night,  when  even  the  venerable  ghost 
appears  before  him.  He  is  seized  with  boundless 
horror ;  he  speaks  to  the  mysterious  form ;  he  sees 
it  beckon  him ;  he  follows  and  hears.  The  fearful 
accusation  of  his  uncle  rings  in  his  ears,  the  sum- 
mons to  revenge,  and  the  piercing,  oft-repeated  prayer, 
Eemember  me ! 

"  And,  when  the  ghost  has  vanished,  who  is  it  that 
stands  before  us?  A  young  hero  panting  for  ven- 
geance ?  A  prince  by  birth,  rejoicing  to  be  called  to 
punish  the  usurper  of  his  crown  ?  Xo  !  trouble  and 
astonishment  take  hold  of  the  sohcary  young  man ;  he 
grows  bitter  against  smiling  villains,  swears  that  he 
will  not  forget  the  spirit,  and  concludes  with  the 
significant  ejaculation,  — 

<'  <  The  time  is  out  of  joint  :  O  cursed  spite, 
That  ever  I  was  born  to  set  it  right  ! ' 

"  In  these  words,  I  imagine,  will  be  found  the  key  to 
Hamlet's  whole  procedure.  To  me  it  is  clear  that 
Shakespeare  meant,  in  the  present  case,  to  represent  the 
effects  of  a  great  action  laid  upon  a  soul  unfit  for  the 
performance  of  it.  In  this  view  the  whole  play  seems 
to  me  to  be  composed.  There  is  an  oak-tree  planted 
in  a  costly  jar,  which  should  have  borne  only-  pleasant 
flowers  in  its  bosom:  the  roots  expand,  the  jar  is 
shivered. 

"  A  lovely,  pure,  noble,  and  most  moral  nature,  with- 
out the  strength  of  nerve  which  forms  a  hero,  sinks 
beneath  a  burden  it  cannot  bear  and  must  not  cast 
away.  All  duties  are  holy  for  him :  the  present  is  too 
hard.     Impossibihties   have  been  required  of  him, — 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  305 

not  in  themselves  impossibilities,  but  such  for  him. 
He  winds  and  turns,  and  torments  himself;  he  ad- 
vances and  recoils ;  is  ever  put  in  mind,  ever  puts  him- 
self in  mind ;  at  last  does  all  but  lose  his  purpose  from 
his  thoughts,  yet  still  without  recovering  his  peace  of 
mind." 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Several  people  entering  interrupted  the  discussion. 
They  were  musical  dilettanti,  who  commonly  assembled 
at  Serlo's  once  a  week,  and  formed  a  little  concert. 
Serlo  himseK  loved  music  much :  he  used  to  maintain, 
that  a  player  without  taste  for  it  never  could  attain  a 
distinct  conception  and  feeling  of  the  scenic  art.  "  As 
a  man  performs,"  he  would  observe,  "with  far  more 
ease  and  dignity  when  his  gestures  are  accompanied 
and  guided  by  a  tune ;  so  the  player  ought,  in  idea  as 
it  were,  to  set  to  music  even  his  prose  parts,  that  he 
may  not  monotonously  shght  them  over  in  his  individ- 
ual style,  but  treat  them  in  suitable  alternation  by  time 
and  measure." 

Aurelia  seemed  to  give  but  little  heed  to  what  was 
passing:  at  last  she  conducted  Wilhelm  to  another 
room ;  and  going  to  the  window,  and  looking  out  at 
the  starry  sky,  she  said  to  him, "  You  have  more  to  tell 
us  about  Hamlet :  I  will  not  hurry  you,  —  my  brother 
must  hear  it  as  well  as  I ;  but  let  me  beg  to  know  your 
thoughts  about  Ophelia." 

"  Of  her  there  cannot  much  be  said,"  he  answered ; 
"  for  a  few  master-strokes  complete  her  character.  The 
whole  being  of  Opheha  floats  in  sweet  and  ripe  sensa- 
tion. Kindness  for  the  prince,  to  whose  hand  she  may 
aspire,  flows  so  spontaneously,  her  tender  heart  obeys  its 
impulses  so  unresistingly,  that  both  father  and  brother 
are  afraid :  both  give  her  warning  harshly  and  directly. 
Decorum,  like  the  thin  lawn  upon  her  bosom,  cannot 
hide  the  soft,  still  movements  of  her  heart :  it,  on  the 
contrary,  betrays  them.     Her  fancy  is  smit ;  her  silent 

306 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  307 

modesty  breathes  amiable  desire ;  and,  if  the  friendly 
goddess  Opportunity  should  shake  the  tree,  its  fruit 
would  fall." 

"  And  then,"  said  Aurelia,  "  when  she  beholds  herself 
forsaken,  cast  away,  despised ;  when  all  is  inverted  in 
the  soul  of  her  crazed  lover,  and  the  highest  changes  to 
the  lowest,  and,  instead  of  the  sweet  cup  of  love,  he 
offers  her  the  bitter  cup  of  woe  "  — 

"  Her  heart  breaks,"  cried  Wilhelm ;  "  the  whole 
structure  of  her  being  is  loosened  from  its  joinings; 
her  father's  death  strikes  fiercely  against  it,  and  the  fair 
edifice  altogether  crumbles  into  fragments." 

Our  friend  had  not  observed  with  what  expressive- 
ness Aurelia  pronounced  those  words.  Looking  only 
at  this  work  of  art,  at  its  connection  and  completeness, 
he  dreamed  not  that  his  auditress  was  feeling  quite  a 
different  influence ;  that  a  deep  sorrow  of  her  own  was 
vividly  awakened  in  her  breast  by  these  dramatic 
shadows. 

Aurelia's  head  was  still  resting  on  her  arms ;  and  her 
eyes,  now  full  of  tears,  were  turned  to  the  sky.  At 
last,  no  longer  able  to  conceal  her  secret  grief,  she 
seized  both  hands  of  her  friend,  and  exclaimed,  while 
he  stood  surprised  before  her, "  Forgive,  forgive  a  heavy 
heart !  I  am  girt  and  pressed  together  by  these  people ; 
from  my  hard-hearted  brother  I  must  seek  to  hide  my- 
self ;  your  presence  has  untied  these  bonds.  My  friend  !  " 
continued  she,  "  it  is  but  a  few  minutes  since  we  saw 
each  other  first,  and  already  you  are  going  to  become 
my  confidant."  She  could  scarcely  end  the  words,  and 
sank  upon  his  shoulder.  "  Think  not  worse  of  me," 
she  said,  with  sobs,  "  that  I  disclose  myself  to  you  so 
hastily,  that  I  am  so  weak  before  you.  Be  my  friend, 
remain  my  friend :  I  shall  deserve  it."  He  spoke  to 
her  in  his  kindest  manner,  but  in  vain :  her  tears  still 
flowed,  and  choked  her  words. 

At  this  moment  Serlo  entered,  most  unwelcomely. 


3o8  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

and,  most  unexpectedly,  Philina,  with  her  hand  in  his. 
"  Here  is  your  friend,"  said  he  to  her :  "  he  will  be  glad 
to  welcome  you." 

"  What ! "  cried  Wilhelm  in  astonishment :  "  are  you 
here  ? "  With  a  modest,  settled  mien,  ,she  went  up  to 
him ;  bade  him  welcome ;  praised  Serlo's  goodness,  who, 
she  said,  without  merit  on  her  part,  but  purely  in  the 
hope  of  her  improvement,  had  agreed  to  admit  her  into 
his  accomplished  troop.  She  behaved,  all  the  while, 
in  a  friendly  manner  toward  Wilhelm,  yet  with  a  dig- 
nified distance. 

But  this  dissimulation  lasted  only  till  the  other  two 
were  gone.  Aureha  having  left  them,  that  she  might 
conceal  her  trouble,  and  Serlo  being  called  away, 
Philina  first  looked  very  sharply  at  the  doors,  to  see 
that  both  were  really  out ;  then  began  skipping  to  and 
fro  about  the  room,  as  if  she  had  been  mad ;  at  last 
dropped  down  upon  the  floor,  Hke  to  die  of  gigghng 
and  laughing.  She  then  sprang  up,  patted  and  flattered 
our  friend ;  rejoicing  above  measure  that  she  had  been 
clever  enough  to  go  before,  and  spy  the  land,  and  get 
herself  nestled  in. 

"  Pretty  things  are  going  on  here,"  she  said ;  "  just  of 
the  sort  I  like.  Aureha  has  had  a  hapless  love-affair 
with  some  nobleman,  who  seems  to  be  a  very  stately 
person,  one  whom  I  myself  could  like  to  see  some  day. 
He  has  left  her  a  memorial,  or  I  much  mistake.  There 
is  a  boy  running  about  the  house,  of  three  years  old  or 
so  :  the  papa  must  be  a  very  pretty  fellow.  Commonly 
I  cannot  suffer  children,  but  this  brat  quite  delights 
me.  I  have  calculated  Aurelia's  business.  The  death 
of  her  husband,  the  new  acquaintance,  the  child's  age, 
—  all  things  agree. 

"  But  now  her  spark  has  gone  his  ways :  for  a  year 
she  has  not  seen  a  glimpse  of  him.  She  is  beside 
herself  and  inconsolable  on  this  account.  The  more 
fool  she !     Her  brother  has  a  dancing-girl  in  his  troop. 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  309 

with  whom  he  stands  on  pretty  terms ;  an  actress  with 
whom  he  is  intimate ;  in  the  town,  some  other  women 
whom  he  courts ;  I,  too,  am  on  his  list.  The  more  fool 
he !  Of  the  rest  thou  shalt  hear  to-morrow.  And  now 
one  word  about  Philina,  whom  thou  knowest :  the  arch- 
fool  is  fallen  in  love  with  thee."  She  swore  it  was  true 
and  prime  sport.  She  earnestly  requested  Wilhelm  to 
fall  in  love  with  Aureha,  for  then  the  chase  would  be 
worth  beholding.  "  She  pursues  her  faithless  swain, 
thou  her,  I  thee,  her  brother  me.  If  that  will  not 
divert  us  for  a  quarter  of  a  year,  I  engage  to  die  at  the 
first  episode  which  occurs  in  this  four  times  compli- 
cated tale."  She  begged  of  him  not  to  spoil  her  trade, 
and  to  show  her  such  respect  as  her  external  conduct 
should  deserve. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

Next  morning  Wilhelm  went  to  visit  Frau  Melina, 
but  found  her  not  at  home.  On  inquiring  here  for  the 
other  members  of  the  wandering  community,  he  learned 
that  Philina  had  invited  them  to  breakfast.  Out  of 
curiosity,  he  hastened  thither,  and  found  them  all  in 
very  good  spirits  and  of  good  comfort.  The  cunning 
creature  had  collected  them,  was  treating  them  with 
chocolate,  and  giving  them  to  understand  that  some 
prospects  still  remained  for  them ;  that,  by  her  influence, 
she  hoped  to  convince  the  manager  how  advantageous 
it  would  be  for  him  to  introduce  so  many  clever  hands 
among 'his  company.  They  listened  to  her  with  atten- 
tion ;  swallowed  cup  after  cup  of  her  chocolate  ;  thought 
the  girl  was  not  so  bad,  after  all,  and  went  away  pro- 
posing to  themselves  to  speak  whatever  good  of  her 
they  could. 

"  Do  you  think,  then,"  said  our  friend,  who  stayed 
behind,  "  that  Serlo  will  determine  to  retain  our  com- 
rades ? "  "  Not  at  all,"  replied  Phihna ;  "  nor  do  I  care 
a  fig  for  it.  The  sooner  they  are  gone,  the  better ! 
Laertes  alone  I  could  wish  to  keep :  the  rest  we  shall 
by  and  by  pack  off." 

Next  she  signified  to  Wilhelm  her  firm  persuasion 
that  he  should  no  longer  hide  his  talent,  but,  under  the 
direction  of  a  Serlo,  go  upon  the  boards.  She  was 
lavish  in  her  praises  of  the  order,  the  taste,  the  spirit, 
which  prevailed  in  this  establishment:  she  spoke  so 
flatteringly  to  Wilhelm,  with  such  admiration  of  his 
gifts,  that  his  heart  and  his  imagination  were  advancing 
toward  this  proposal  as  fast  as  his  understanding  and 

310 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  311 

his  reason  were  retreating  from  it.  He  concealed  his 
inclination  from  himself  and  from  Philina,  and  passed 
a  restless  day,  unable  to  resolve  on  visiting  his  trading 
correspondents,  to  receive  the  letters  which  might  there 
be  lying  for  him.  The  anxieties  of  his  people  during 
all  this  time  he  easily  conceived ;  yet  he  shrank  from 
the  precise  account  of  them,  particularly  at  the  present 
time,  as  he  promised  to  himself  a  gi-eat  and  pure  enjoy- 
ment from  the  exhibition  of  a  new  play  that  evening. 

Serlo  had  refused  to  let  him  witness  the  rehearsal. 
"  You  must  see  us  on  the  best  side,"  he  observed,  "  be- 
fore we  can  allow  you  to  look  into  our  cards." 

The  performance,  however,  where  our  friend  did  not 
fail  to  be  present,  yielded  him  a  high  satisfaction.  It 
was  the  first  time  he  had  ever  seen  a  theatre  in  such 
perfection.  The  actors  were  evidently  all  possessed  of 
excellent  gifts,  superior  capacities,  and  a  high,  clear 
notion  of  their  art :  they  were  not  equal,  but  they 
mutually  restrained  and  supported  one  another ;  each 
breathed  ardour  into  those  around  him ;  throughout 
all  their  acting,  they  showed  themselves  decided  and 
correct.  You  soon  felt  that  Serlo  was  the  soul  of  the 
whole :  as  an  individual,  he  appeared  to  much  advan- 
tage. A  merry  humour,  a  measured  vivacity,  a  settled 
feehng  of  propriety,  combined  with  a  great  gift  of  imi- 
tation, were  to  be  observed  in  him  the  moment  he  ap- 
peared upon  the  stage.  The  inward  contentment  of 
his  being  seemed  to  spread  itself  over  all  that  looked 
on  him ;  and  the  intellectual  style  in  which  he  could 
so  easily  and  gracefully  express  the  finest  shadings  of 
his  part,  excited  more  delight,  as  he  could  conceal  the 
art  which,  by  long-continued  practice,  he  had  made 
his  own. 

Aureha,  his  sister,  was  not  inferior:  she  obtained 
still  greater  approbation ;  for  she  touched  the  souls  of 
the  audience,  which  he  had  it  in  his  power  to  exhila- 
rate and  amuse. 


312  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

After  a  few  days  had  passed  pleasantly  enough, 
Aurelia  sent  to  inquire  for  our  friend.  He  hastened 
to  her :  she  was  lying  on  a  sofa ;  she  seemed  to  be 
suffering  from  headache ;  her  whole  frame  had  visibly 
a  feverish  movement.  Her  eye  lighted  up  as  she 
noticed  Wilhelm.  "  Pardon  me ! "  she  cried,  as  he 
entered :  "  the  trust  you  have  inspired  me  with  has 
made  me  weak.  Till  now  I  have  contrived  to  bear  up 
against  my  woes  in  secret ;  nay,  they  gave  me  strength 
and  consolation :  but  now,  I  know  not  how  it  is,  you 
have  loosened  the  bands  of  silence.  You  will  now, 
even  against  your  will,  take  part  in  the  battle  I  am 
fighting  with  myself!" 

Wilhelm  answered  her  in  kind  and  obhging  terms. 
He  declared  that  her  image  and  her  sorrows  had  not 
ceased  to  hover  in  his  thoughts ;  that  he  longed  for 
her  confidence,  and  devoted  himself  to  be  her  friend. 

While  he  spoke,  his  eyes  were  attracted  to  the  boy, 
who  sat  before  her  on  the  floor,  and  was  busy  rattling 
a  multitude  of  playthings.  This  child,  as  Philina  had 
observed,  might  be  about  three  years  of  age ;  and  Wil- 
helm now  conceived  how  that  giddy  creature,  seldom 
elevated  in  her  phraseology,  had  hkened  it  to  the  sun. 
For  its  cheerful  eyes  and  full  countenance  were  shaded 
by  the  finest  golden  locks,  which  flowed  around  in 
copious  curls ;  dark,  slender,  softly  bending  eyebrows 
showed  themselves  upon  a  brow  of  dazzling  whiteness ; 
and  the  living  tinge  of  health  was  glancing  on  its 
cheeks.  "  Sit  by  me,"  said  Aurelia :  "  you  are  looking 
at  the  happy  child  with  admiration  ;  in  truth,  I  took 
it  into  my  arms  with  joy ;  I  keep  it  carefully ;  yet,  by 
it,  too,  I  can  measure  the  extent  of  my  sufferings  ;  for 
they  seldom  let  me  feel  the  worth  of  such  a  gift. 

"  Allow  me,"  she  continued,  "  to  speak  to  you  about 
myself  and  my  destiny ;  for  I  have  it  much  at  heart 
that  you  should  not  misunderstand  me.  I  thought  I 
should  have  a  few  calm  instants ;  and,  accordingly,  I 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  3^3 

sent  for  you.  You  are  now  here,  and  the  thread  of 
my  narrative  is  lost. 

" '  One  more  forsaken  woman  in  the  world  ! '  you 
will  say.  You  are  a  man.  You  are  thinking,  '  What 
a  noise  she  makes,  the  fool,  about  a  necessary  evil ; 
which,  certainly  as  death,  awaits  a  woman,  when  such 
is  the  fidelity  of  men ! '  0  my  friend !  if  my  fate 
were  common,  I  would  gladly  undergo  a  common  evil ; 
but  it  is  so  singular  !  why  cannot  I  present  it  to  you 
in  a  mirror,  —  why  not  command  some  one  to  tell  it 
you  ?  Oh  !  had  I,  had  I  been  seduced,  surprised,  and 
afterward  forsaken,  there  would  then  still  be  comfort 
in  despau'  ;  but  I  am  far  more  miserable.  I  have  been 
my  own  deceiver ;  I  have  wittingly  betrayed  myself ; 
and  this,  this,  is  what  shall  never  be  forgiven  me." 

"  With  noble  feelings,  such  as  yours,"  said  Wilhelm, 
"  you  cannot  be  entirely  unhappy." 

"  And  do  you  know  to  what  I  am  indebted  for  my 
feelings  ? "  asked  Aurelia.  "  To  the  worst  education 
that  ever  threatened  to  contaminate  a  girl;  to  the 
vilest  examples  for  misleading  the  senses  and  inclina- 
tions. 

"My  mother  dying  early,  the  fairest  years  of  my 
youth  were  spent  with  an  aunt,  whose  principle  it  was 
to  despise  the  laws  of  decency.  She  resigned  herself 
headlong  to  every  impulse,  careless  whether  the  object 
of  it  proved  her  tyrant  or  her  slave,  so  she  might  for- 
get herself  in  wild  enjoyment. 

"By  children,  with  the  pure,  clear  vision  of  inno- 
cence, what  ideas  of  men  were  necessarily  formed  in 
such  a  scene  !  How  stolid,  brutally  bold,  importunate, 
unmannerly,  was  every  one  she  allured  !  How  sated, 
empty,  insolent,  and  insipid,  as  soon  as  he  had  had  his 
wishes  gratified !  I  have  seen  this  woman  live,  for 
years,  humbled  under  the  control  of  the  meanest  crea- 
tures. What  incidents  she  had  to  undergo !  With 
what  a  front  she  contrived  to  accommodate  herself  to 


314  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

her  destiny ;  nay,  with  how  much  skill,  to  wear  these 
shameful  fetters ! 

"  It  was  thus,  my  friend,  that  I  became  acquainted 
with  your  sex ;  and  deeply  did  I  hate  it,  when,  as  I 
imagined,  I  observed  that  even  tolerable  men,  in  their 
conduct  to  ours,  appeared  to  renounce  every  honest 
feeling,  of  which  nature  might  otherwise  have  made 
them  capable. 

"  Unhappily,  moreover,  on  such  occasions,  a  multi- 
tude of  painful  discoveries  about  my  own  sex  were 
forced  upon  me ;  and,  in  truth,  I  was  then  wiser,  as  a 
girl  of  sixteen,  than  I  now  am,  now  that  I  scarcely 
understand  myself.  Why  are  we  so  wise  when  young, 
—  so  wise,  and  ever  growing  less  so  ? " 

The  boy  began  to  make  a  noise :  Aurelia  became 
impatient,  and  rang.  An  old  woman  came  to  take  him 
out.  "  Hast  thou  toothache  still  ?  "  said  Aurelia  to  the 
crone,  whose  face  was  wrapped  in  cloth.  "  Unsuffer- 
able,"  said  the  other,  with  a  muffled  voice,  then  lifted 
the  boy,  who  seemed  to  like  going  with  her,  and  car- 
ried him  away. 

Scarcely  was  he  gone,  when  Aureha  began  bitterly 
to  weep.     "  I  am  good  for   nothing,"  cried  she,  "  but 
lamenting  and  complaining ;  and  I  feel  ashamed  to  lie 
before  you  like  a  miserable  worm.     My  recollection  is 
already  fled :  I  can  relate  no  more."      She  faltered,  and 
was    silent.     Her    friend,  unwilling    to  reply  with  a 
commonplace,  and  unable  to   reply  with  anything  par- 
ticularly applicable,    pressed  her  hand,  and  looked  at 
her   for   some   time    without  speaking.     Thus   embar- 
rassed, he  at  length  took  up  a  book,  which  he  noticed 
lying  on  the  table   before  him :  it  was  Shakespeare's 
works,  and  open  at  "  Hamlet." 

Serlo,  at  this  moment  entering,  inquired  about  his 
sister,  and,  looking  in  the  book  which  our  friend  had 
hold  of,  cried,  "  So  you  are  again  at '  Hamlet  ? '  Very 
good  !     Many  doubts  have  arisen  in  me,  which  seem 


MEISTER'S  APPRENTICESHIP  315 

not  a  little  to  impair  the  canonical  aspect  of  the  play 
as  you  would  have  it  viewed.  The  English  themselves 
have  admitted  that  its  chief  interest  concludes  with 
the  third  act ;  the  last  two  lagging  sorrily  on,  and 
scarcely  uniting  with  the  rest :  and  certainly  about 
the  end  it  seems  to  stand    stock-still." 

"  It  is  very  possible,"  said  Wilhelm,  "  that  some 
individuals  of  a  nation,  which  has  so  many  master- 
pieces to  feel  proud  of,  may  be  led  by  prejudice  and 
narrowness  of  mind  to  form  false  judgments ;  but  this 
cannot  hinder  us  from  looking  with  our  own  eyes,  and 
doing  justice  where  we  see  it  due.  I  am  very  far 
from  censuring  the  plan  of  '  Hamlet : '  on  the  other 
hand,  I  believe  there  never  was  a  grander  one  in- 
vented ;  nay,  it  is  not  invented,  it  is  real." 

"  How  do  you  demonstrate  that  ?  "  inquired  Serlo. 

"I  will  not  demonstrate  anything,"  said  Wilhelm: 
"  I  will  merely  show  you  what  my  own  conceptions 
of  it  are." 

Aurelia  raised  herself  from  her  cushion,  leaned  upon 
her  hand,  and  looked  at  Wilhelm,  who,  with  the 
firmest  assurance  that  he  was  in  the  right,  went  on  as 
follows :  "  It  pleases  us,  it  flatters  us,  to  see  a  hero 
acting  on  his  own  strength,  loving  and  hating  at  the 
bidding  of  his  heart,  undertaking  and  completing,  cast- 
ing every  obstacle  aside,  and  attaining  some  great  end. 
Poets  and  historians  would  willingly  persuade  us  that 
so  proud  a  lot  may  fall  to  man.  In  '  Hamlet '  we  are 
taught  another  lesson :  the  hero  is  without  a  plan,  but 
the  play  is  full  of  plan.  Here  we  have  no  villain  pun- 
ished on  some  self-conceived  and  rigidly  accomplished 
scheme  of  vengeance :  a  horrid  deed  is  done ;  it  rolls 
along  with  all  its  consequences,  dragging  with  it  even 
the  guiltless  :  the  guilty  perpetrator  would,  as  it  seems, 
evade  the  abyss  made  ready  for  him  ;  yet  he  plunges 
in,  at  the  very  point  by  which  he  thinks  he  shall 
escape,  and  happily  complete  his  course. 


3i6  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

"  For  it  is  the  property  of  crime  to  extend  its  mis- 
chief over  innocence,  as  it  is  of  virtue  to  extend  its 
blessings  over  many  that  deserve  them  not ;  while 
frequently  the  author  of  the  one  or  of  the  other  is  not 
punished  or  rewarded  at  all.  Here  in  this  play  of 
ours,  how  strange  !  The  Pit  of  darkness  sends  its 
spirit  and  demands  revenge  :  in  vain !  All  circum- 
stances tend  one  way,  and  hurry  to  revenge :  in  vain ! 
Neither  earthly  nor  infernal  thing  may  bring  about 
what  is  reserved  for  fate  alone.  The  hour  of  judgment 
comes ;  the  wicked  falls  with  the  good ;  one  race  is 
mowed  away,  that  another  may  spring  up." 

After  a  j)ause,  in  which  they  looked  at  one  another, 
Serlo  said,  "  You  pay  no  great  compliment  to  Provi- 
dence, in  thus  exalting  Shakespeare;  and  besides,  it 
appears  to  me,  that  for  the  honour  of  your  poet,  as 
others  for  the  honour  of  Providence,  you  ascribe  to 
him  an  object  and  a  plan  such  as  he  himself  had 
never  thought  of." 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

"Let  me  also  put  a  question,"  said  Aurelia.  "I 
have  looked  at  Ophelia's  part  again :  I  am  contented 
with  it,  and  confident,  that,  under  certain  circum- 
stances, I  could  play  it.  But  tell  me,  should  not 
the  poet  have  furnished  the  insane  maiden  with 
another  sort  of  songs  ?  Could  not  some  fragments  out 
of  melancholy  ballads  be  selected  for  this  purpose! 
Why  put  double  meanings  and  lascivious  insipidities 
in  the  mouth  of  this  noble-minded  girl  ? " 

"  Dear  friend,"  said  Wilhelm,  "  even  here  I  cannot 
yield  you  one  iota.  In  these  singularities,  in  this 
apparent  impropriety,  a  deep  sense  is  hid.  Do  we  not 
understand  from  the  very  first  what  the  mind  of  the 
good,  soft-hearted  girl  was  busied  with  ?  Silently  she 
lived  within  herself,  yet  she  scarce  concealed  her 
wishes,  her  longing :  the  tones  of  desire  were  in  secret 
ringing  through  her  soul ;  and  how  often  may  she  have 
attempted,  like  an  unskilful  nurse,  to  lull  her  senses 
to  repose  with  songs  which  only  kept  them  more 
awake  ?  But  at  last,  when  her  self-command  is 
altogether  gone,  when  the  secrets  of  her  heart  are 
hovering  on  her  tongue,  that  tongue  betrays  her ;  and 
in  the  innocence  of  insanity  she  solaces  herself,  un- 
mindful of  king  or  queen,  with  the  echo  of  her  loose 
and  well-beloved  songs,  — '  To-morrow  is  Saint  Valen- 
tine's Day,'  and  '  By  Gis  and  by  Saint  Charity.' " 

He  had  not  finished  speaking,  when  all  at  once  an 
extraordinary  scene  took  place  before  him,  which  he 
could  not  in  any  way  explain. 

317 


3i8  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

Serlo  had  walked  once  or  twice  up  and  down  the 
room,  without  evincing  any  special  object.  On  a 
sudden,  he  stepped  forward  to  Aurelia's  dressing-table, 
caught  hastily  at  something  that  was  lying  there,  and 
hastened  to  the  door  with  his  booty.  No  sooner  did 
Aurelia  notice  this,  than,  springing  up,  she  threw  her- 
self in  his  way,  laid  hold  of  him  with  boundless  vehe- 
mence, and  had  dexterity  enough  to  clutch  an  end  of 
the  article  he  was  carrying  off.  They  struggled  and 
wrestled  with  great  obstinacy,  twisted  and  threw  each 
other  sharply  around ;  he  laughed ;  she  exerted  all  her 
strength;  and  as  Wilhelm  hastened  toward  them,  to 
separate  and  soothe  them,  Aureha  sprang  aside  with  a 
naked  dagger  in  her  hand ;  while  Serlo  cast  the  scab- 
bard, which  had  stayed  with  him,  angiily  upon  the  floor. 
Wilhelm  started  back  astonished  ;  and  his  dumb  won- 
der seemed  to  ask  the  cause  why  so  violent  a  strife, 
about  so  strange  an  implement,  had  taken  place  be- 
tween them. 

"You  shall  judge  betwixt  us,"  said  the  brother. 
"  What  business  she  with  sharp  steel  ?  Do  but  look 
at  it.  That  dagger  is  unfit  for  any  actress,  —  point 
like  a  needle's,  edge  like  a  razor's !  What  good's  the 
farce  ?  Passionate  as  she  is,  she  will  one  day  chance 
to  do  herself  a  mischief.  I  have  a  heart's  hatred  at 
such  singularities :  a  serious  thought  of  that  sort  is 
insane,  and  so  dangerous  a  plaything  is  not  in  taste." 

"  I  have  it  back ! "  exclaimed  Aureha,  and  held  the 
pohshed  blade  aloft :  "  I  will  now  keep  my  faithful 
friend  more  carefully.  Pardon  me,"  she  cried,  and 
kissed  the  steel,  "that  I  have  so  neglected  thee." 

Serlo  was  like  to  grow  seriously  angry.  "  Take  it  as 
thou  wilt,  brother,"  she  continued  :  "  how  knowest  thou 
but,  under  this  form,  a  precious  tahsman  may  have 
been  given  me,  so  that,  in  extreme  need,  I  may  find 
help  and  counsel  in  it  ?  Must  all  be  hurtful  that 
looks  dangerous  ? " 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  319 

"Such  talk  without  a  meaning  might  drive  one 
mad,"  said  Serlo,  and  left  the  room  with  suppressed 
indignation.  Aureha  put  the  dagger  carefully  into  its 
sheath,  and  placed  it  in  her  bosom.  "  Let  us  now  re- 
sume the  conversation  which  our  foolish  brother  has 
disturbed,"  said  she,  as  Wilhelm  was  beginning  to  put 
questions  on  the  subject  of  this  quarrel. 

"  I  must  admit  your  picture  of  Ophelia  to  be  just," 
continued  she ;  "  I  cannot  now  misunderstand  the 
object  of  the  poet :  I  must  pity ;  though,  as  you  paint 
her,  I  shall  rather  pity  her  than  sympathise  with  her. 
But  allow  me  here  to  offer  a  remark,  which  in  these 
few  days  you  have  frequently  suggested  to  me.  I  ob- 
serve with  admiration  the  correct,  keen,  penetrating 
glance  with  which  you  judge  of  poetry,  especially 
dramatic  poetry :  the  deepest  abysses  of  invention  are 
not  hidden  from  you,  the  finest  touches  of  representa- 
tion cannot  escape  you.  Without  ever  having  viewed 
the  objects  in  nature,  you  recognise  the  truth  of  their 
images :  there  seems,  as  it  were,  a  presentiment  of  all 
the  universe  to  he  in  you,  which  by  the  harmonious 
touch  of  poetry  is  awakened  and  unfolded.  For  in 
truth,"  continued  she,  "  from  without,  you  receive  not 
much :  I  have  scarcely  seen  a  person  that  so  little 
knew,  so  totally  misknew,  the  people  he  lived  with,  as 
you  do.  Allow  me  to  say  it :  in  hearing  you  expound 
the  mysteries  of  Shakespeare,  one  would  think  you  had 
just  descended  from  a  synod  of  the  gods,  and  had 
listened  there  while  they  were  taking  counsel  how  to 
form  men ;  in  seeing  you  transact  with  your  fellows,  I 
could  imagine  you  to  be  the  first  large-born  child  of 
the  Creation,  standing  agape,  and  gazing  with  strange 
wonderment  and  edifying  good  nature  at  lions  and 
apes  and  sheep  and  elephants,  and  true-heartedly  ad- 
dressing them  as  your  equals,  simply  because  they  were 
there,  and  in  motion  like  yourself." 

"  The  feehng  of  my  ignorance  in  this  respect,"  said 


320  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

Wilhelm,  "  often  gives  me  pain ;  and  I  should  thank 
you,  worthy  friend,  if  you  would  help  me  to  get  a 
little  better  insight  into  life.  From  youth,  I  have 
been  accustomed  to  direct  the  eyes  of  my  spirit  inwards 
rather  than  outwards;  and  hence  it  is  very  natural, 
that,  to  a  certain  extent,  I  should  be  acquainted  with 
man,  while  of  men  I  have  not  the  smallest  knowledge." 

"  In  truth,"  said  Aurelia,  "  I  at  first  suspected,  that, 
in  giving  such  accounts  of  the  people  whom  you  sent 
to  my  brother,  you  meant  to  make  sport  of  us :  when 
I  compared  your  letters  with  the  merits  of  these  per- 
sons, it  seemed  very  strange." 

Aureha's  remarks,  well  founded  as  they  might  be, 
and  wilhng  as  our  friend  was  to  confess  himself  de- 
ficient in  this  matter,  carried  mth  them  something 
painful,  nay,  offensive,  to  him ;  so  that  he  grew  silent, 
and  retired  within  himself,  partly  to  avoid  showing  any 
irritated  feeling,  partly  to  search  his  mind  for  the 
truth  or  error  of  the  charge. 

"  Let  not  this  alarm  you,"  said  Aurelia :  "  the  hght 
of  the  understanding  it  is  always  in  our  power  to 
reach,  but  this  fulness  of  the  heart  no  one  can  give  us. 
If  you  are  destined  for  an  artist,  you  cannot  long 
enough  retain  the  dim-sighteduess  and  innocence  of 
which  I  speak ;  it  is  the  beautiful  hull  upon  the  young 
bud ;  woe  to  us  if  we  are  forced  too  soon  to  burst  it ! 
Surely  it  were  well,  if  we  never  knew  what  the  people 
are  for  whom  we  work  and  study. 

"  Oh  !  I,  too,  was  in  that  happy  case,  when  I  first 
betrod  the  stage,  with  the  loftiest  opinion  of  myself 
and  of  my  nation.  What  a  people,  in  my  fancy,  were 
the  Germans !  what  a  people  might  they  yet  become ! 
I  addressed  this  people,  raised  above  them  by  a  little 
joinery,  separated  from  them  by  a  row  of  lamps,  whose 
glancing  and  vapour  threw  an  indistinctness  over 
everything  before  me.  How  welcome  was  the  tumult 
of  applause  which  sounded  to  me  from  the  crowd  !  how 


MEISTER'S  APPRENTICESHIP  321 

gratefully  did  I  accept  the  present  offered  me  unani- 
mously by  so  many  hands !  For  a  time  I  rocked  my- 
self in  these  ideas :  I  affected  the  multitude,  and  was 
again  affected  by  them.  With  my  public  I  was  on  the 
fairest  footing:  I  imagined  that  I  felt  a  perfect  har- 
mony betwixt  us,  and  that  on  each  occasion  I  beheld 
before  me  the  best  and  noblest  of  the  land. 

"  Unhappily  it  was  not  the  actress  alone  that  in- 
spired these  friends  of  the  stage  with  interest:  they 
likewise  made  pretensions  to  the  young  and  lively  girL 
They  gave  me  to  understand,  in  terms  distinct  enough, 
that  my  duty  was,  not  only  to  excite  emotion  in  them, 
but  to  share  it  with  them  personally.  This,  unluckily, 
was  not  my  business :  I  wished  to  elevate  their  minds ; 
but,  to  what  they  called  their  hearts,  I  had  not  the 
slightest  claim.  Yet  now  men  of  all  ranks,  ages,  and 
characters,  by  turns  afflicted  me  with  their  addresses ; 
and  it  did  seem  hard  that  I  could  not,  like  an  honest 
young  woman,  shut  my  door,  and  spare  myself  such  a 
quantity  of  labour. 

"The  men  appeared,  for  most  part,  much  the 
same  as  I  had  been  accustomed  to  about  my  aunt ; 
and  here  again  I  should  have  felt  disgusted  with  them, 
had  not  their  peculiarities  and  insipidities  amused  me. 
As  I  was  compelled  to  see  them,  in  the  theatre,  in  open 
places,  in  my  house,  I  formed  the  project  of  spying  out 
their  follies ;  and  my  brother  helped  me  with  alacrity 
to  execute  it.  And  if  you  reflect,  that  up  from  the 
whisking  shopman  and  the  conceited  merchant's  son, 
to  the  polished,  calculating  man  of  the  world,  the  bold 
soldier,  and  the  impetuous  prince,  all  in  succession 
passed  in  review  before  me,  each  in  his  way  endeavour- 
ing to  found  his  small  romance,  you  will  pardon  me  if 
I  conceived  that  I  had  gained  some  acquaintance  with 
my  nation. 

"The  fantastically  dizened  student;  the  awkward, 
humbly  proud  man  of   letters;   the  sleek-fed,   gouty 


322  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

canon ;  the  solemn,  heedful  man  of  office ;  the  heavy- 
country  baron ;  the  smirking,  vapid  courtier ;  the  young, 
erring  parson ;  the  cool  as  well  as  the  quick  and 
sharply  speculating  merchant,  —  all  these  I  have  seen 
in  motion ;  and  I  swear  to  you,  that  there  were  fev/ 
among  them  fitted  to  inspire  me  even  with  a  sentiment 
of  toleration :  on  the  contrary,  I  felt  it  altogether  irk- 
some to  collect,  with  tedium  and  annoyance,  the 
suffrages  of  fools ;  to  pocket  those  applauses  in  detail, 
which  in  their  accumulated  state  had  so  dehghted  me, 
which  in  the  gross  I  had  appropriated  with  such 
pleasure. 

"  If  I  expected  a  rational  comphment  upon  my  act- 
ing, if  I  hoped  that  they  would  praise  an  author  whom 
I  valued,  they  were  sure  to  make  one  empty  observa- 
tion on  the  back  of  another,  and  to  name  some  vapid 
play  in  which  they  wished  to  see  me  act.  If  I  Hstened 
in  their  company,  to  hear  if  some  noble,  brilliant,  witty 
thought  had  met  vnth  a  response  among  them,  and 
would  reappear  from  some  of  them  in  proper  season, 
it  was  rare  that  I  could  catch  an  echo  of  it.  An  error 
that  had  happened,  a  mispronunciation,  a  provincialism 
of  some  actor,  such  were  the  weighty  points  by  which 
they  held  fast,  beyond  which  they  could  not  pass.  I 
knew  not,  in  the  end,  to  what  hand  I  should  turn : 
themselves  they  thought  too  clever  to  be  entertained ; 
and  me  they  imagined  they  were  well  entertaining,  if 
they  romped  and  made  noise  enough  about  me.  I  be- 
gan very  cordially  to  despise  them  all :  I  felt  as  if  the 
whole  nation  had,  on  purpose,  deputed  these  people  to 
debase  it  in  my  eyes.  They  appeared  to  me  so  clown- 
ish, so  ill-bred,  so  wretchedly  instructed,  so  void  of 
pleasing  quahties,  so  tasteless,  I  frequently  exclaimed, 
'  No  German  can  buckle  his  shoes,  till  he  has  learned 
to  do  it  of  some  foreign  nation ! ' 

"  You  perceive  how  bhnd,  how  unjust  and  splenetic, 
I  was ;  and,  the  longer  it  lasted,  my  spleen  increased. 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  323 

I  might  have  killed  myself  with  these  things,  but  I  fell 
into  the  contrary  extreme :  I  married,  or,  rather,  let 
myself  be  married.  My  brother,  who  had  undertaken 
to  conduct  the  theatre,  wished  much  to  have  a  helper. 
His  choice  lighted  on  a  young  man,  who  was  not 
offensive  to  me,  who  wanted  all  that  my  brother  had, 

—  genius,  vivacity,  spirit,  and  impetuosity  of  mind ; 
but  who  also  in  return  had  all  that  my  brother  wanted, 

—  love  of  order,  diligence,  and  precious  gifts  in 
housekeeping,  and  the  management  of  money. 

"  He  became  my  husband,  I  know  not  how :  we 
lived  together,  I  do  not  well  know  why.  Sufifice  it  to 
say,  our  affairs  went  prosperously  forward.  We  drew 
a  large  income :  of  this  my  brother's  activity  was  the 
cause.  We  lived  with  a  moderate  expenditure,  and 
that  was  the  merit  of  my  husband.  I  thought  no 
more  about  world  or  nation.  With  the  world  I  had 
nothing  to  participate :  my  idea  of  the  nation  had 
faded  away.  When  I  entered  on  the  scene,  I  did  so 
that  I  might  subsist :  I  opened  my  lips  because  I  durst 
not  continue  silent,  because  I  had  come  out  to  speak. 

"  Yet  let  me  do  the  matter  justice.  I  had  altogether 
given  myself  up  to  the  disposal  of  my  brother.  His 
objects  were,  applause  and  money ;  for,  between  our- 
selves, he  has  no  dislike  to  hear  his  own  praises ;  and 
his  outlay  is  always  great.  I  no  longer  played  accord- 
ing to  my  own  feeling,  to  my  own  conviction,  but  as 
he  directed  me ;  and,  if  I  did  it  to  his  satisfaction,  I 
was  content.  He  steered  entirely  by  the  caprices  of 
the  public.  Money  flowed  upon  us :  he  could  live 
according  to  his  humour,  and  so  we  had  good  times 
with  him. 

"  Thus  had  I  fallen  into  a  dull,  handicraft  routine. 
I  spun  out  my  days  without  joy  or  sympathy.  My 
marriage  was  childless,  and  not  of  long  continuance. 
My  husband  grew  sick ;  his  strength  was  visibly  de- 
caying; anxiety  for  him  interrupted  my  general  iudif- 


324  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

ference.  It  was  at  this  time  that  I  formed  an 
acquaintance  which  opened  a  new  life  for  me,  —  a 
new  and  quicker  one,  for  it  will  soon  be  done." 

She  kept  silence  for  a  time,  and  then  continued,  "  All 
at  once  my  prattling  humour  falters:  I  have  not  the 
courage  to  go  on.  Let  me  rest  a  little.  You  shall  not 
go,  till  you  have  learned  the  whole  extent  of  my  mis- 
fortune. Meanwhile,  call  in  Mignon,  and  ask  her 
what  she  wants." 

The  child  had  more  than  once  been  in  the  room, 
while  Aurelia  and  our  friend  were  talking.  As  they 
spoke  lower  on  her  entrance,  she  had  glided  out  again, 
and  was  now  sitting  quietly  in  the  hall,  and  waiting. 
Being  bid  return,  she  brought  a  book  with  her,  which 
its  form  and  binding  showed  to  be  a  small  geograph- 
ical atlas.  She  had  seen  some  maps,  for  the  first  time, 
at  the  parson's  house,  with  great  astonishment ;  had 
asked  him  many  questions,  and  informed  herself  so  far 
as  possible  about  them.  Her  desire  to  learn  seemed 
much  excited  by  this  new  branch  of  knowledge.  She 
now  earnestly  requested  Wilhelm  to  purchase  her  the 
book;  saying  she  had  pawned  her  large  silver  buckle 
with  the  print-seller  for  it,  and  wished  to  have  back 
the  pledge  to-morrow  morning,  as  this  evening  it  was 
late.  Her  request  was  granted;  and  she  then  began 
repeating  several  things  she  had  already  learned;  at 
the  same  time,  in  her  own  way,  making  many  very 
strange  inquiries.  Here  again  one  might  observe,  that, 
with  a  mighty  effort,  she  could  comprehend  but  little 
and  laboriously.  So  likewise  was  it  with  her  writing, 
at  which  she  still  kept  busied.  She  yet  spoke  very 
broken  German :  it  was  only  when  she  opened  her 
mouth  to  sing,  when  she  touched  her  cithern,  that  she 
seemed  to  be  employing  an  organ  by  which,  in  some 
degree,  the  workings  of  her  mind  could  be  disclosed 
and  communicated. 

Since  we  are  at  present  on  the  subject,  we  may  also 


meister's  apprenticeship  325 

mention  the  perplexity  which  Wilhelm  had  of  late  ex- 
perienced from  certain  parts  of  her  procedure.  When 
she  came  or  went,  wished  him  good  morning  or  good 
night,  she  clasped  him  so  firmly  in  her  arms,  and 
kissed  him  with  such  ardour,  that  often  the  violence  of 
this  expanding  nature  gave  him  serious  fears.  The 
spasmodic  vivacity  of  her  demeanour  seemed  daily  to 
increase :  her  whole  being  moved  in  a  restless  stillness. 
She  would  never  be  without  some  piece  of  packthread 
to  twist  in  her  hands,  some  napkin  to  tie  in  knots, 
some  paper  or  wood  to  chew.  All  her  sports  seemed 
but  the  channels  which  drained  off  some  inward 
violent  commotion.  The  only  thing  that  seemed  to 
cause  her  any  cheerfulness  was  being  near  the  boy 
Fehx,  with  whom  she  could  go  on  in  a  very  dainty 
manner. 

Aurelia,  after  a  little  rest,  being  now  ready  to  ex- 
plain to  her  friend  a  matter  which  lay  very  near  her 
heart,  grew  impatient  at  the  Httle  girl's  delay,  and 
signified  that  she  must  go,  —  a  hint,  however,  which 
the  latter  did  not  take  ;  and  at  last,  when  nothing  else 
would  do,  they  sent  her  off  expressly  and  against  her 
will. 

"  Now  or  never,"  said  Aurelia,  "  must  I  tell  you  the 
remainder  of  my  story.  Were  my  tenderly  beloved 
and  unjust  friend  but  a  few  miles  distant,  I  would  say 
to  you,  '  Mount  on  horseback,  seek  by  some  means  to 
get  acquainted  with  him :  on  returning,  you  will  cer- 
tainly forgive  me,  and  pity  me  with  all  your  heart.' 
As  it  is,  I  can  only  tell  you  with  words  how  amiable 
he  was,  and  how  much  I  loved  him. 

"  It  was  at  the  critical  season,  when  care  for  the  ill- 
ness of  my  husband  had  depressed  my  spirits,  that  I 
first  became  acquainted  with  this  stranger.  He  had 
just  returned  from  America,  where,  in  company  with 
some  Frenchmen,  he  had  served  with  much  distinction 
under  the  colours  of  the  United  States. 


326  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

"  He  addressed  me  with  an  easy  dignity,  a  frank 
kindliness :  lie  spoke  about  myself,  my  state,  my  act- 
ing, like  an  old  acquaintance,  so  affectionately  and  dis- 
tinctly, that  now  for  the  first  time  I  enjoyed  the 
pleasure  of  perceiving  my  existence  reflected  in  the 
being  of  another.  His  judgments  were  just,  though 
not  severe ;  penetrating,  yet  not  void  of  love.  He 
showed  no  harshness :  his  pleasantry  was  courteous, 
with  all  his  humour.  He  seemed  accustomed  to  suc- 
cess with  women ;  this  excited  my  attention :  he  was 
never  in  the  least  importunate  or  flattering ;  this  put 
me  off  my  guard. 

"  In  the  town,  he  had  intercourse  with  few :  he  was 
often  on  horseback,  visiting  his  many  friends  in  the 
neighbourhood,  and  managing  the  business  of  his 
house.  On  returning,  he  would  frequently  alight  at 
my  apartments ;  he  treated  my  ever  ailing  husband 
with  warm  attention ;  he  procured  him  mitigation  of 
his  sickness  by  a  good  physician.  And,  taking  part 
in  all  that  interested  me,  he  allowed  me  to  take  part  in 
all  that  interested  him.  He  told  me  the  history  of  his 
campaigns :  he  spoke  of  his  invincible  attachment  to 
military  life,  of  his  family  relations,  of  his  present  busi- 
ness. He  kept  no  secret  from  me ;  he  displayed  to  me 
his  inmost  thoughts,  allowed  me  to  behold  the  most 
secret  corners  of  his  soul:  I  became  acquainted  with 
his  passions  and  his  capabilities.  It  was  the  first  time 
in  my  life  that  I  enjoyed  a  cordial,  intellectual  inter- 
course with  any  living  creature.  I  was  attracted  by 
him,  borne  along  by  him,  before  I  thought  about 
inquiring  how  it  stood  with  me. 

"  Meanwhile  I  lost  my  husband,  nearly  just  as  I  had 
taken  him.  The  burden  of  theatrical  affairs  now  fell 
entirely  on  me.  My  brother,  not  to  be  surpassed  upon 
the  stage,  was  never  good  for  anything  in  economical 
concerns :  I  took  the  charge  of  all,  at  the  same  time 
studying  my  parts  with  greater  diligence  than  ever.     I 


meister's  apprenticeship  327 

again  played  as  of  old,  —  nay,  with  new  life,  with, 
quite  another  force.  It  was  by  reason  of  my  friend,  it 
was  on  his  account,  that  I  did  so ;  yet  my  success  was 
not  always  best  when  I  knew  him  to  be  present.  Once 
or  twice  he  listened  to  me  unobserved,  and  how  pleas- 
antly his  unexpected  applauses  surprised  me  you  may 
conceive. 

"  Certainly  I  am  a  strange  creature.  In  every  part 
I  played,  it  seemed  as  if  I  had  been  speaking  it  in 
praise  of  him  :  for  that  was  the  temper  of  my  heart,  the 
words  might  be  anything  they  pleased.  Did  I  under- 
stand him  to  be  present  in  the  audience,  I  durst  not 
venture  to  speak  out  with  all  my  force ;  just  as  I 
would  not  press  my  love  or  praise  on  him  to  his  face : 
was  he  absent,  I  had  then  free  scope ;  I  did  my  best, 
with  a  certain  peacefulness,  with  a  contentment  not  to 
be  described.  Applause  once  more  dehghted  me  ;  and, 
when  I  charmed  the  people,  I  longed  to  call  down 
among  them,  '  This  you  owe  to  him ! ' 

"  Yes :  my  relation  to  the  public,  to  the  nation,  had 
been  altered  by  a  wonder.     On  a  sudden  they  again 
appeared  to   me  in  the  most  favourable  light :  I  felt . 
astonished  at  my  former  blindness. 

"'How  foolish,'  said  I  often  to  myself,  'was  it  to 
revile  a  nation,  —  foolish,  simply  because  it  was  a 
nation.  Is  it  necessary,  is  it  possible,  that  individual 
men  should  generally  interest  us  much  ?  Not  at  all ! 
The  only  question  is,  whether  in  the  great  mass  there 
exists  a  sufficient  quantity  of  talent,  force,  and  capa- 
bihty,  which  lucky  circumstances  may  develop,  which 
men  of  lofty  minds  may  direct  upon  a  common  object.' 
I  now  rejoiced  in  discovering  so  little  prominent  origi- 
nality among  my  countrymen ;  I  rejoiced  that  they 
disdained  not  to  accept  of  guidance  from  without ;  I 
rejoiced  that  they  had  found  a  leader. 

"Lothario,  —  allow  me  to  designate  my  friend  by 
this,  his   first    name,  which  I  loved,  —  Lothario    had 


328  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

always  presented  tlie  Germans  to  my  mind  on  the  side 
of  valour,  and  shown  me,  that,  w^hen  well  commanded, 
there  was  no  braver  nation  on  the  face  of  the  earth ; 
and  I  felt  ashamed  that  I  had  never  thought  of  this, 
the  first  quality  of  a  people.  History  was  known  to 
him :  he  was  in  connection  and  correspondence  with 
the  most  distinguished  persons  of  the  age.  Young  as 
he  was,  his  eye  was  open  to  the  budding  youthhood  of 
his  country,  to  the  silent  labours  of  active  and  busy 
men  in  so  many  provinces  of  art.  He  afforded  me  a 
glimpse  of  Germany,  —  what  it  was  and  what  it  might 
be;  and  I  blushed  at  having  formed  my  judgment  of 
a  nation  from  the  motley  crowd  that  squeeze  into  the 
wardrobe  of  a  theatre.  He  made  me  look  upon  it  as  a 
duty  that  I  too,  in  my  own  department,  should  be  true, 
spirited,  enlivening.  I  now  felt  as  if  inspired  every 
time  I  stepped  upon  the  boards.  Mediocre  passages 
gi-ew  golden  in  my  mouth :  had  any  poet  been  at  hand 
to  support  me  adequately,  I  might  have  produced  the 
most  astonishing  effects. 

"  So  lived  the  young  vndow  for  a  series  of  months. 
He  could  not  do  without  me,  and  I  felt  exceedingly 
unhappy  when  he  stayed  away.  He  showed  me  the 
letters  he  received  from  his  relations,  from  his  amiable 
sister.  He  took  an  interest  in  the  smallest  circum- 
stance that  concerned  me :  more  complete,  more  inti- 
mate, no  union  ever  was  than  ours.  The  name  of  love 
was  not  mentioned.  He  went  and  came,  came  and 
went.  And  now,  my  friend,  it  is  high  time  that  you, 
too,  should  go." 


CHAPTEE   XVII. 

WiLHELM  could  put  off  DO  longer  the  visiting  of  his 
commercial  friends.  He  proceeded  to  their  place  with 
some  anxiety,  knowing  he  should  there  find  letters 
from  his  people.  He  dreaded  the  reproofs  which  these 
would  of  course  contain:  it  seemed  hkely  also  that 
notice  had  been  given  to  his  trading  correspondents, 
concerning  the  perplexities  and  fears  which  his  late 
silence  had  occasioned.  After  such  a  series  of  knightly 
adventures,  he  recoiled  from  the  schoolboy  aspect  in 
which  he  must  appear :  he  proposed  within  his  mind  to 
act  with  an  air  of  sternness  and  defiance,  and  thus 
hide  his  embarrassment. 

To  his  great  wonder  and  contentment,  however,  all 
went  off  very  easily  and  well.  In  the  vasst,  stirring, 
busy  counting-room,  the  men  had  scarcely  time  to  seek 
him  out  his  packet:  his  delay  was  but  alluded  to  in 
passing.  And  on  opening  the  letters  of  his  father,  and 
his  friend  Werner,  he  found  them  all  of  very  innocent 
contents.  His  father,  in  hopes  of  an  extensive  journal, 
the  keeping  of  which  he  had  strongly  recommended  to 
his  son  at  parting,  giving  him  also  a  tabulary  scheme 
for  that  purpose,  seemed  pretty  well  pacified  about  the 
silence  of  the  first  period  ;  complaining  only  of  a  certain 
enigmatical  obscurity  in  the  last  and  only  letter  des- 
patched, as  we  have  seen,  from  the  castle  of  the  count. 
Werner  joked  in  his  way ;  told  merry  anecdotes,  face- 
tious burgh-news ;  and  requested  intelligence  of  friends 
and  acquaintances,  whom  Wilhelm,  in  the  large  trading- 
city,  would  now  meet  with  in  great  numbers.  Our 
friend,  extremely  pleased  at  getting  off   so  well,  an- 

329 


33°  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

swered  without  loss  of  a  moment,  in  some  very  cheerful 
letters ;  promising  his  father  a  copious  journal  of  his 
travels,  with  all  the  required  geographical,  statistical, 
and  mercantile  remarks.  He  had  seen  much  on  his 
journey,  he  said,  and  hoped  to  make  a  tolerably  large 
manuscript  out  of  these  materials.  He  did  not  observe 
that  he  was  almost  in  the  same  case  as  he  had  once 
experienced  before,  when  he  assembled  an  audience 
and  lit  his  lamps  to  represent  a  play  which  was  not 
written,  still  less  got  by  heart.  Accordingly,  so  soon 
as  he  commenced  the  actual  work  of  composition,  he 
became  aware  that  he  had  much  to  say  about  emotions 
and  thoughts,  and  many  experiences  of  the  heart  and 
spirit,  but  not  a  w^ord  concerning  outward  objects,  on 
which,  as  he  now  discovered,  he  had  not  bestowed  the 
least  attention. 

In  this  embarrassment,  the  acquisitions  of  his  friend 
Laertes  came  very  seasonably  to  his  aid.  Custom  had 
united  these  young  people,  unhke  one  another  as  they 
were ;  and  Laertes,  with  all  his  faihngs  and  singularities, 
was  actually  an  interesting  man.  Endowed  with  warm 
and  pleasurable  senses,  he  might  have  reached  old  age 
without  reflecting  for  a  moment  on  his  situation.  But 
his  ill-fortune  and  his  sickness  had  robbed  him  of  the 
pure  feehngs  of  youth,  and  opened  for  him  instead  of  it  a 
view  into  the  transitoriness,  the  discontinuity,  of  man's 
existence.  Hence  had  arisen  a  humourous,  flighty, 
rhapsodical  way  of  thinking  about  all  things,  or,  rather, 
of  uttering  the  immediate  impressions  they  produced 
on  him.  He  did  not  like  to  be  alone ;  he  strolled  about 
all  the  coffee-houses  and  taUes-d'hote ;  and,  when  he 
did  vStay  at  home,  books  of  travels  were  his  favourite, 
nay,  his  only,  kind  of  reading.  Having  lately  found  a 
large  circulating  library,  he  had  been  enabled  to  con- 
tent his  taste  in  this  respect  to  the  full ;  and  erelong 
half  the  world  was  figuring  in  his  faithful  memory. 

It  was  easy  for  him,  therefore,  to  speak  comfort  to 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  331 

his  friend,  when  the  latter  had  disclosed  his  utter  lack 
of  matter  for  the  narrative  so  solemnly  promised  by 
him.  "  Now  is  the  time  for  a  stroke  of  art,"  said  Laer- 
tes, "  that  shall  have  no  fellow  ! 

"  Has  not  Germany  been  travelled  over,  cruised  over, 
walked,  crept,  and  flown  over,  repeatedly  from  end  to 
end  ?  And  has  not  every  German  traveller  the  royal 
privilege  of  drawing  from  the  pubhc  a  repayment  of 
the  gi-eat  or  small  expenses  he  may  have  incurred 
while  travelling  ?  Give  me  your  route  previous  to  our 
meeting:  the  rest  I  know  already.  I  will  find  you 
helps  and  sources  of  information :  of  miles  that  were 
never  measured,  populations  that  were  never  counted, 
w^e  shall  give  them  plenty.  The  revenues  of  provinces 
we  will  take  from  almanacs  and  tables,  which,  as  all 
men  know,  are  the  most  authentic  documents.  On 
these  we  will  ground  our  political  discussions :  we  shall 
not  fail  in  side-glances  at  the  ruling  powers.  One  or 
two  princes  we  will  paint  as  true  fathers  of  their  coun- 
try, that  we  may  gain  more  ready  credence  in  our 
allegations  against  others.  If  we  do  not  travel  through 
the  residence  of  any  noted  man,  we  shall  take  care  to 
meet  such  persons  at  the  inn,  and  make  them  utter  the 
most  foolish  stuff  to  us.  Particularly,  let  us  not  forget 
to  insert,  with  all  its  graces  and  sentiments,  some  love- 
story  with  a  pastoral  barmaid.  I  tell  you,  it  shall  be 
a  composition  which  will  not  only  fill  father  and 
mother  with  delight,  but  which  booksellers  themselves 
shall  gladly  pay  you  current  money  for." 

They  went  accordingly  to  work,  and  both  of  them 
found  pleasure  in  their  labour.  Wilhelm,  in  the  mean- 
time, frequenting  the  play  at  night,  and  conversing 
with  Serlo  and  Aureha  by  day,  experienced  the  greatest 
satisfaction,  and  was  daily  more  and  more  expanding 
his  ideas,  which  had  been  too  long  revolving  in  the 
same  narrow  circle. 


CHAPTEK   XVIII. 

It  was  not  without  deep  interest  that  he  became 
acquainted  with  the  history  of  Serlo's  career.  Piece- 
meal he  learned  it ;  for  it  was  not  the  fashion  of  that 
extraordinary  man  to  be  confidential,  or  to  speak  of 
anything  connectively.  He  had  been,  one  may  say, 
born  and  suckled  in  the  theatre.  While  yet  Hterally 
an  infant,  he  had  been  produced  upon  the  stage  to 
move  spectators,  merely  by  his  presence ;  for  authors 
even  then  were  acquainted  with  this  natural  and  very 
guiltless  mode  of  doing  so.  Thus  his  first  "Father!" 
or  "  Mother  ! "  in  favourite  pieces,  procured  him  appro- 
bation, before  he  understood  what  was  meant  by  that 
clapping  of  the  hands.  In  the  character  of  Cupid,  he 
more  than  once  descended,  with  terror,  in  his  flying- 
gear  ;  as  harlequin,  he  used  to  issue  from  the  egg ;  and, 
as  a  little  chimney-sweep,  to  play  the  sharpest  tricks. 

Unhappily,  the  plaudits  of  these  glancing  nights 
were  too  bitterly  repaid  by  suflferings  in  the  interven- 
ing seasons.  His  father  was  persuaded  that  the  minds 
of  children  could  be  kept  awake  and  steadfast  by  no 
other  means  than  blows :  hence,  in  the  studying  of  any 
part,  he  used  to  thrash  him  at  stated  periods,  not 
because  the  boy  was  awkward,  but  that  he  might  be- 
come more  certainly  and  constantly  expert.  It  was 
thus  that  in  former  times,  while  putting  down  a  land- 
mark, people  were  accustomed  to  bestow  a  hearty 
drubbing  on  the  children  who  had  followed  them ;  and 
these,  it  was  supposed,  would  recollect  the  place  ex- 
actly to  the  latest  day  of  their  lives.  Serlo  waxed  in 
stature,  and  showed  the  finest  capabihties  of  spirit  and 

332 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  333 

of  body,  —  in  particular,  an  admirable  pliancy  at  once 
in  his  thoughts,  looks,  movements,  and  gestures.  His 
gift  of  imitation  was  beyond  belief.  When  still  a  boy, 
he  could  mimic  persons,  so  that  you  would  think  you 
saw  them ;  though  in  form,  age,  and  disposition,  they 
might  be  entirely  unlike  him,  and  unlike  each  other. 
Nor  with  all  this,  did  he  want  the  knack  of  suiting 
himself  to  his  circumstances,  and  picking  out  his  way 
in  life.  Accordingly,  so  soon  as  he  had  gTOwn  in  some 
degree  acquainted  with  his  strength,  he  very  naturally 
eloped  from  his  father,  who,  as  the  boy's  understand- 
ing and  dexterity  increased,  still  thought  it  needful  to 
forward  their  perfection  by  the  harshest  treatment. 

Happy  was  the  wild  boy,  now  roaming  free  about 
the  world,  where  his  feats  of  waggery  never  failed  to 
secure  him  a  good  reception.  His  lucky  star  first  led 
him  in  the  Christmas  season  to  a  cloister,  where  the 
friar,  whose  business  it  had  been  to  arrange  processions, 
and  to  entertain  the  Christian  community  by  spiritual 
masquerades,  having  just  died,  Serlo  was  welcomed  as 
a  helping  angel.  On  the  instant  he  took  up  the  part 
of  Gabriel  in  the  Annunciation,  and  did  not  by  any 
means  displease  the  pretty  girl,  who,  acting  the  Virgin, 
very  gTacefully  received  his  most  obliging  kiss,  with 
external  humility  and  inward  pride.  In  their  mys- 
teries, he  continued  to  perform  the  most  important 
parts,  and  thought  himself  no  slender  personage,  when 
at  last,  in  the  character  of  Martyr,  he  was  mocked  of 
the  world,  and  beaten,  and  fixed  upon  the  cross. 

Some  pagan  soldiers  had,  on  this  occasion,  played 
their  parts  a  little  too  naturally.  To  be  avenged  on 
these  heathen  in  the  proper  style,  he  took  care  at  the 
Day  of  Judgment  to  have  them  decked  out  in  gaudy 
clothes  as  emperors  and  kings;  and  at  that  moment 
when  they,  exceedingly  contented  with  their  situation, 
were  about  to  take  precedence  of  the  rest  in  heaven,  as 
they  had  done  on  earth,  he,  on  a  sudden,  rushed  upon 


334  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

them  in  the  shape  of  the  Devil ;  and  to  the  cordial  edi- 
fication of  all  the  beggars  and  spectators,  having 
thoroughly  curried  them  with  his  oven-fork,  he  pushed 
them  without  mercy  back  into  the  chasm,  where,  in 
the  midst  of  waving  flame,  they  met  with  the  sorriest 
welcome. 

He  was  acute  enough,  however,  to  perceive  that 
these  crowned  heads  might  feel  offended  at  such  bold 
procedure,  and  perhaps  forget  the  reverence  due  to  his 
privileged  office  of  accuser  and  turnkey.  So  in  all 
silence,  before  the  millennium  commenced,  he  with- 
drew, and  betook  him  to  a  neighbouring  town.  Here 
a  society  of  persons,  denominated  Children  of  Joy,  re- 
ceived him  with  open  arms.  They  were  a  set  of  clever, 
strong-headed,  lively  geniuses,  w^ho  saw  well  enough 
that  the  sum  of  our  existence,  divided  by  reason,  never 
gives  an  integer  number,  but  that  a  surprising  fraction 
is  always  left  behind.  At  stated  times,  to  get  rid  of 
this  fraction,  which  impedes,  and,  if  it  is  diffused  over 
all  the  mass  of  our  conduct,  endangers  us,  was  the 
object  of  the  Children  of  Joy.  For  one  day  a  week 
each  of  them  in  succession  was  a  fool  on  purpose ;  and, 
during  this,  he  in  his  turn  exhibited  to  ridicule,  in 
allegorical  representations,  whatever  folly  he  had 
noticed  in  himself,  or  the  rest,  throughout  the  other 
six.  This  practice  might  be  somewhat  ruder  than 
that  constant  training,  in  the  course  of  which  a  man 
of  ordinary  morals  is  accustomed  to  observe,  to  warn, 
to  punish,  himself  daily ;  but  it  was  also  merrier  and 
surer.  For  as  no  Child  of  Joy  concealed  his  bosom- 
folly,  so  he  and  those  about  him  held  it  for  simply  what 
it  was;  whereas,  on  the  other  plan,  by  the  help  of 
self-deception,  this  same  bosom-folly  often  gains  the 
head  authority  within,  and  binds  down  reason  to  a 
secret  servitude,  at  the  very  time  when  reason  fondly 
hopes  that  she  has  long  since  chased  it  out-of-doors. 
The  mask  of  folly  circulated  around  in  this  society; 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  335 

and  each  member  was  allowed,  in  his  particular  day, 
to  decorate  and  characterise  it  with  his  own  attri- 
butes or  those  of  others.  At  the  time  of  carnival, 
they  assumed  the  greatest  freedom,  vying  with  the 
clergy  in  attempts  to  instruct  and  entertain  the 
multitude.  Their  solemn  figurative  processions  of 
Virtues  and  Vices,  Arts  and  Sciences,  Quarters  of  the 
World,  and  Seasons  of  the  Year,  bodied  forth  a  num- 
ber of  conceptions,  and  gave  images  of  many  distant 
objects  to  the  people,  and  hence  were  not  without  their 
use ;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  the  mummeries  of  the 
priesthood  tended  but  to  strengthen  a  tasteless  super- 
stition, already  strong  enough. 

Here  again  young  Serlo  was  altogether  in  his  ele- 
ment. Invention  in  its  strictest  sense,  it  is  true,  he 
had  not;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  he  had  the  most 
consummate  skill  in  employing  what  he  found  before 
him,  in  ordering  it,  and  shadowing  it  forth.  His 
roguish  turns,  his  gift  of  mimicry;  his  biting  wit, 
which  at  least  one  day  weekly  he  might  use  with  en- 
tire freedom,  even  against  his  benefactors,  —  made 
him  precious,  or  rather  indispensable,  to  the  whole 
society. 

Yet  his  restless  mind  soon  drove  him  from  this 
favourable  scene  to  other  quarters  of  his  country, 
where  other  means  of  instruction  awaited  him.  He 
came  into  the  pohshed,  but  also  barren,  part  of  Ger- 
many, where,  in  worshipping  the  good  and  the  beauti- 
ful, there  is  indeed  no  want  of  truth,  but  frequently  a 
grievous  want  of  spirit.  His  masks  would  here  do 
nothing  for  him :  he  had  now  to  aim  at  working  on  the 
heart  and  mind.  For  short  periods,  he  attached  him- 
self to  small  or  to  extensive  companies  of  actors,  and 
marked,  on  these  occasions,  what  were  the  distinctive 
properties,  both  of  the  pieces  and  the  players.  The 
monotony  which  then  reigned  on  the  German  theatre, 
the  mawkish  sound  and  cadence  of  their  Alexandrines, 


33^  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

the  flat  and  yet  distorted  dialogue,  the  shallowness 
and  commonness  of  these  undisguised  preachers  of 
morahty,  he  was  not  long  in  comprehending,  or  in 
seizing,  at  the  same  time,  what  little  there  was  that 
moved  and  pleased. 

Not  only  single  parts  in  the  current  pieces,  but  the 
pieces  themselves,  remained  easily  and  wholly  in  his 
memory,  and,  along  with  them,  the  special  tone  of  any 
player  who  had  represented  them  with  approbation. 
At  length,  in  the  course  of  his  rambles,  his  money 
being  altogether  done,  the  project  struck  him  of  acting 
entire  pieces  by  himself,  especially  in  villages  and  no- 
blemen's houses,  and  thus  in  all  places  making  sure 
at  least  of  entertainment  and  lodging.  In  any  tavern, 
any  room,  or  any  garden,  he  would  accordingly  at  once 
set  up  his  theatre:  with  a  roguish  seriousness  and  a 
show  of  enthusiasm,  he  would  contrive  to  gain  the 
imaginations  of  his  audience,  to  deceive  their  senses, 
and  before  their  eyes  to  make  an  old  press  into  a 
tower,  or  a  fan  into  a  dagger.  His  youthful  warmth 
supplied  the  place  of  deep  feehng :  his  vehemence 
seemed  strength,  and  his  flattery  tenderness.  Such  of 
the  spectators  as  already  knew  a  theatre,  he  put  in 
mind  of  all  that  they  had  seen  and  heard :  in  the  rest 
he  awakened  a  presentiment  of  something  wonderful, 
and  a  wish  to  be  more  acquainted  with  it.  What  pro- 
duced an  effect  in  one  place  he  did  not  fail  to  repeat 
in  others ;  and  his  mind  overflowed  with  a  wicked 
pleasure  when,  by  the  same  means,  on  the  spur  of  the 
moment,  he  could  make  gulls  of  all  the  world. 

His  spirit  was  lively,  brisk,  and  unimpeded :  by 
frequently  repeating  parts  and  pieces,  he  improved 
very  fast.  Erelong  he  could  recite  and  play  with 
more  conformity  to  the  sense  than  the  models  whom 
he  had  at  first  imitated.  Proceeding  thus,  he  arrived  by 
degrees  at  playing  naturally ;  though  he  did  not  cease 
to  feign.     He  seemed  transported,  yet  he  lay  in  wait 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  337 

for  the  effect ;  and  his  greatest  pride  was  in  moving, 
by  successive  touches,  the  passions  of  men.  The  mad 
trade  he  drove  did  itself  soon  force  him  to  proceed 
with  a  certain  moderation ;  and  thus,  partly  by 
constraint,  partly  by  instinct,  he  learned  the  art  of 
which  so  few  players  seemed  to  have  a  notion,  —  the 
art  of  being  frugal  in  the  use  of  voice  and  gestures. 

Thus  did  he  contrive  to  tame,  and  to  inspire  with 
interest  for  him,  even  rude  and  unfriendly  men.  Be- 
ing always  contented  with  food  and  shelter ;  thank- 
fully accepting  presents  of  any  kind  as  readily  as 
money,  which  latter,  when  he  reckoned  that  he  had 
enough  of  it,  he  frequently  declined,  —  he  became  a 
general  favourite,  was  sent  about  from  one  to  another 
with  recommendatory  letters ;  and  thus  he  wandered 
many  a  day  from  castle  to  castle,  exciting  much 
festivity,  enjoying  much,  and  meeting  in  his  travels 
with  the  most  agreeable  and  curious  adventures. 

With  such  inward  coldness  of  temper,  he  could  not 
properly  be  said  to  love  any  one;  with  such  clearness 
of  vision,  he  could  respect  no  one;  in  fact,  he  never 
looked  beyond  the  external  pecuHarities  of  men ;  and 
he  merely  carried  their  characters  in  his  mimical 
collection.  Yet  withal,  his  selfishness  was  keenly 
wounded  if  he  did  not  please  every  one  and  call  forth 
universal  applause.  •  How  this  might  be  attained,  he 
had  studied  in  the  course  of  time  so  accurately,  and 
so  sharpened  his  sense  of  the  matter,  that  not  only  on 
the  stage,  but  also  in  common  life,  he  no  longer  could 
do  otherwise  than  flatter  and  deceive.  And  thus  did 
his  disposition,  his  talent,  and  his  way  of  life,  work 
reciprocally  on  each  other,  till  by  this  means  he  had 
imperceptibly  been  formed  into  a  perfect  actor.  Nay, 
by  a  mode  of  action  and  reaction,  which  is  quite 
natural,  though  it  seems  paradoxical,  his  recitation, 
declamation,  and  gesture  improved,  by  critical  discern- 
ment and  practice,  to  a  high  degree   of  truth,  ease, 


33^  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

and  frankness ;  while,  in  his  life  and  intercourse  with 
men,  he  seemed  to  grow  continually  more  secret,  art- 
ful, or  even  hypocritical  and  constrained. 

Of  his  fortunes  and  adventures  we  perhaps  shall 
speak  in  another  place :  it  is  enough  to  remark  at 
present,  that  in  later  times,  when  he  had  become  a 
man  of  circumstance,  in  possession  of  a  distinct  repu- 
tation, and  of  a  very  good,  though  not  entirely  secure, 
employment  and  rank,  he  was  wont,  in  conversation, 
partly  in  the  way  of  irony,  partly  of  mockery,  in  a 
dehcate  style,  to  act  the  sophist,  and  thus  to  destroy 
almost  all  serious  discussion.  This  kind  of  speech  he 
seemed  peculiarly  fond  of  using  toward  Wilhelm, 
particularly  when  the  latter  took  a  fancy,  as  often 
happened,  for  introducing  any  of  his  general  and 
theoretical  disquisitions.  Yet  still  they  liked  well  to 
be  together :  with  such  different  modes  of  thinking, 
the  conversation  could  not  fail  to  be  lively.  "Wilhelm 
always  wished  to  deduce  everything  from  abstract 
ideas  which  he  had  arrived  at :  he  wanted  to  have  art 
viewed  in  all  its  connections  as  a  whole.  He  wanted 
to  promulgate  and  fix  down  ^niversal  laws ;  to  settle 
what  was  right,  beautiful,  and  good :  in  short,  he 
treated  all  things  in  a  serious  manner.  Serlo,  on  the 
other  hand,  took  up  the  matter  very  lightly :  never 
answering  directly  to  any  question,  he  would  contrive, 
by  some  anecdote  or  laughable  turn,  to  give  the 
finest  and  most  satisfactory  illustrations,  and  thus  to 
instruct  his  audience  while  he  made  them  merry. 


nuani  .V/ 


aiiJ  laJljB  aiirvji 


.....     ...  ,  .  ..      .,  ,     (:ir'rTim 

place :  it  is  enough 
that  in  later  times,  when  l. 
ui  circumstance,  in  po  i  of  a 

'  of  a  \ 

^  V  * 

partly  in  the  way  of  ii 

d'  style,  to  act  th(  Ut,  an< 

is  kind  01 


8; 

:3    K 

S' 
1 

11^       '.>in.:/ 

lend    ot    usiuig    ^ 
^      '-^er  took  ;^ 

1 

^       f-r     -r: 

nnv    of 

ti 

be 

together 

.ich  di 

ai_   .- _,  _.  _-,_ 

by   some   .  e   or 

finest  and  most  & 

instruct  his  audience  while  iic  ma 


"  He  was  wont  to  make  them  read  " 

Photogravure  after  the  paintmg  by  W.  p-fiedrich 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

While  our  friend  was  in  this  way  living  very  hap- 
pily, Melina  and  the  rest  were  in  quite  a  different  case. 
Wilhelm  they  haunted  hke  evil  spirits ;  and  not  only 
by  their  presence,  but  frequently  by  rueful  faces  and 
bitter  words,  they  caused  him  many  a  sorry  moment. 
Serlo  had  not  admitted  them  to  the  most  trifling  part, 
far  less  held  out  to  them  any  hope  of  a  permanent  en- 
gagement ;  and  yet  he  had  contrived,  by  degrees,  to  get 
acquainted  with  the  capabilities  of  every  one  of  them. 
Whenever  any  actors  were  assembled  in  leisure  hours 
about  him,  he  was  wont  to  make  them  read,  and  fre- 
quently to  read  along  with  them.  On  such  occasions 
he  took  plays  which  were  by  and  by  to  be  acted,  which 
for  a  long  time  had  remained  unacted ;  and  generally 
by  portions.  In  like  manner,  after  any  first  representa- 
tion, he  caused  such  passages  to  be  repeated  as  he  had 
anything  to  say  upon  :  by  which  means  he  sharpened 
the  discernment  of  his  actors,  and  strengthened  their 
certainty  of  hitting  the  proper  point.  And  as  a  person 
of  slender  but  correct  understanding  may  produce  more 
agreeable  effect  on  others  than  a  perplexed  and  unpu- 
rified  genius,  he  would  frequently  exalt  men  of  mediocre 
talents,  by  the  clear  views  which  he  imperceptibly 
afforded  them,  to  a  wonderful  extent  of  power.  Nor 
was  it  an  unimportant  item  in  his  scheme,  that  he  like- 
wise had  poems  read  before  him  in  their  meetings ;  for 
by  these  he  nourished  in  his  people  the  feeling  of  that 
charm  which  a  well-pronounced  rhythm  is  calculated 
to  awaken  in  the  soul :  whereas,  in  other  companies, 

339 


340  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

those  prose  compositions  were  already  getting   intro- 
duced for  which  any  tyro  was  adequate. 

On  occasions  such  as  these,  he  had  contrived  to 
make  himself  acquainted  mth  the  new-come  players: 
he  had  decided  what  they  were,  and  what  they  might 
be,  and  silently  made  up  his  mind  to  take  advantage  of 
their  talents,  in  a  revolution  which  was  now  threatening 
his  own  company.  For  awhile  he  let  the  matter  rest ; 
declined  every  one  of  Wilhelm's  intercessions  for  his 
comrades,  with  a  shrug  of  the  shoulders ;  till  at  last 
he  saw  his  time,  and  altogether  unexpectedly  made  the 
proposal  to  our  friend,  "  that  he  himself  should  come 
upon  the  stage ;  that,  on  this  condition,  the  others,  too, 
might  be  admitted." 

"  These  people  must  not  be  so  useless  as  you  formerly 
described  them,"  answered  Wilhelm,  "  if  they  can  now 
be  ail  received  at  once ;  and  I  suppose  their  talents 
would  remain  the  same  without  me  as  with  me." 

Under  seal  of  secrecy,  Serlo  hereupon  explained  his 
situation,  —  how  his  first  actor  was  giving  hints  about 
a  rise  of  salary  at  the  renewal  of  their  contract ;  how 
he  himself  did  not  inchue  conceding  this,  the  rather  as 
the  individual  in  question  was  no  longer  in  such  favour 
with  the  public:  how,  if  he  dismissed  him,  a  whole 
train  would  follow ;  whereby,  it  was  true,  his  company 
would  lose  some  good,  but  Hkewise  some  indifferent, 
actors.  He  then  showed  Wilhelm  what  he  hoped  to 
gain  in  him,  in  Laertes,  Old  Boisterous,  and  even  Frau 
Melina.  Nay,  he  promised  to  procure  for  the  silly 
Pedant  himself,  in  the  character  of  Jew,  minister,  but 
chiefly  of  villain,  a  decided  approbation. 

Wilhelm  faltered;  the  proposal  fluttered  him;  he 
knew  not  what  to  say.  That  he  might  say  something, 
he  rejoined,  with  a  deep-drawn  breath,""  You  speak  very 
graciously  about  the  good  you  find  and  hope  to  find  in 
us ;  but  how  is  it  with  our  weak  points,  which  certainly 
have  not  escaped  your  penetration  ? " 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  341 

"  These,"  said  Serlo,  "  by  diligence,  practice,  and 
reflection,  we  shall  soon  make  strong  points.  Though 
you  are  yet  but .  freshmen  and  bunglers,  there  is  not 
one  among  you  that  does  not  warrant  expectation  more 
or  less :  for,  so  far  as  I  can  judge,  no  stick,  properly  so 
called,  is  to  be  met  with  in  the  company ;  and  your 
stick  is  the  only  person  that  can  never  be  improved, 
never  bent  or  guided,  whether  it  be  self-conceit,  stupid- 
ity, or  hypochondria,  that  renders  him  unpliant." 

The  manager  next  stated,  in  a  few  words,  the  terms 
he  meant  to  offer :  requested  Wilhelm  to  determine 
soon,  and  left  him  in  no  small  perplexity. 

In  the  marvellous  composition  of  those  travels, 
which  he  had  at  first  engaged  with,  as  it  were,  in  jest, 
and  was  now  carrying  on  in  conjunction  with  Laertes, 
his  mind  had  by  degrees  gi'own  more  attentive  to  the 
circumstances  and  the  every-day  life  of  the  actual 
world  than  it  was  wont.  He  now  first  understood 
the  object  of  his  father  in  so  earnestly  recommending 
him  to  keep  a  journal.  He  now,  for  the  first  time, 
felt  how  pleasant  and  how  useful  it  might  be  to  be- 
come participator  in  so  many  trades  and  requisitions, 
and  to  take  a  hand  in  diffusing  activity  and  life  into 
the  deepest  nooks  of  the  mountains  and  forests  of 
Europe.  The  busy  trading  town  in  which  he  was ;  the 
unrest  of  Laertes,  who  dragged  him  about  to  examine 
everything,  —  afforded  him  the  most  impressive  image 
of  a  mighty  centre,  from  which  everything  was  flowing 
out,  to  which  everything  was  coming  back ;  and  it  was 
the  first  time  that  his  spirit,  in  contemplating  this 
species  of  activity,  had  really  felt  delight.  At  such  a 
juncture  Serlo's  offer  had  been  made  him ;  had  again 
awakened  his  desires,  his  tendencies,  his  faith  in  a  nat- 
ural talent,  and  again  brought  into  mind  his  solemn 
obligation  to  his  helpless  comrades. 

"Here  standest  thou  once  more,"  said  he  within 
himself,  "  at  the  Parting  of  the  Ways,  between  the  two 


342  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

women  who  appeared  before  thee  in  thy  youth.  The 
one  no  longer  looks  so  pitiful  as  then,  nor  does  the 
other  look  so  glorious.  To  obey  the  one,  or  to  obey 
the  other,  thou  art  not  without  a  kind  of  inward  calling : 
outward  reasons  are  on  both  sides  strong  enough,  and 
to  decide  appears  to  thee  impossible.  Thou  wishest 
some  preponderancy  from  without  would  fix  thy  choice ; 
and  yet,  if  thou  consider  well,  it  is  external  circum- 
stances only  that  inspire  thee  with  a  wish  to  trade,  to 
gather,  to  possess;  whilst  it  is  thy  inmost  want  that 
has  created,  that  has  nourished,  the  desire  still  further 
to  unfold  and  perfect  what  endowments  soever  for  the 
beautiful  and  good,  be  they  mental  or  bodily,  may  lie 
within  thee.  And  ought  I  not  to  honour  Fate,  which, 
without  furtherance  of  mine,  has  led  me  hither  to  the 
goal  of  all  my  wishes  ?  Has  not  all  that  I,  in  old  times, 
meditated  and  forecast,  now  happened  accidentally,  and 
without  my  cooperation  ?  Singular  enough  !  We  seem 
to  be  so  intimate  with  nothing  as  we  are  with  our  own 
wishes  and  hopes,  which  have  long  been  kept  and 
cherished  in  our  hearts ;  yet  when  they  meet  us,  when 
they,  as  it  were,  press  forward  to  us,  then  we  know 
them  not,  then  we  recoil  from  them.  All  that,  since 
the  hapless  night  which  severed  me  from  Mariana,  I 
have  but  allowed  myself  to  dream,  now  stands  before 
me,  entreating  my  acceptance.  Hither  I  intended  to 
escape  by  flight ;  hither  I  am  softly  guided ;  with  Serlo 
I  meant  to  seek  a  place ;  he  now  seeks  me,  and  offers 
me  conditions,  which,  as  a  beginner,  I  could  not  have 
looked  for.  Was  it,  then,  mere  love  to  Mariana  that 
bound  me  to  the  stage  ?  Or  love  to  art  that  bound  me 
to  her  ?  Was  that  prospect,  that  outlet,  which  the 
theatre  presented  me,  nothing  but  the  project  of  a  rest- 
less, disorderly,  and  disobedient  boy,  wishing  to  lead  a 
life  which  the  customs  of  the  civic  world  would  not 
admit  of  ?  Or  was  all  this  different,  worthier,  purer  ? 
If  so,  what  moved  thee  to  alter  the  persuasions  of  that 


MEISTER'S  APPRENTICESHIP  343 

period  ?  Hast  thou  not  hitherto,  even  without  know- 
ing it,  pursued  thy  plan  ?  Is  not  the  concluding  step 
still  further  to  be  justified,  now  that  no  side-purposes 
combine  with  it ;  now  that  in  making  it  thou  mayest 
fulfil  a  solemn  promise,  and  nobly  free  thyself  from  a 
heavy  debt  ? " 

All  that  could  affect  his  heart  and  his  imagination 
was  now  moving,  and  conflicting  in  the  livehest  strife 
within  him.  The  thought  that  he  might  retain  Mignon, 
that  he  should  not  need  to  put  away  the  harper,  was 
not  an  inconsiderable  item,  in  the  balance,  which,  how- 
ever, had  not  ceased  to  waver  to  the  one  and  to  the 
other  side,  when  he  went,  as  he  was  wont,  to  see  his 
friend  Aurelia. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

She  was  lying  on  the  sofa :  she  seemed  quiet.  "  Do 
you  think  you  will  be  fit  to  act  to-morrow  ? "  he  in- 
quired. "  Oh,  yes  !  "  cried  she  with  vivacity  :  "  you 
know  there  is  nothing  to  prevent  me.  If  I  but  knew 
a  way,"  continued  she, "  to  rid  myself  of  those  applauses  ! 
The  people  mean  it  well,  but  they  will  kill  me.  Last 
night  I  thought  my  very  heart  would  break  !  Once, 
when  I  used  to  please  myself,  I  could  endure  this 
gladly :  when  I  had  studied  long,  and  well  prepared 
myself,  it  gave  me  joy  to  hear  the  sound,  '  It  has  suc- 
ceeded ! '  pealing  back  to  me  from  every  corner.  But 
now  I  speak  not  what  I  like,  nor  as  I  like ;  I  am  swept 
along,  I  get  confused,  I  scarce  know  what  I  do ;  and  the 
impression  I  make  is  far  deeper.  The  applause  grows 
louder ;  and  I  think.  Did  you  but  know  what  charms 
you  !  these  dark,  vague,  vehement  tones  of  passion  move 
you,  force  you  to  admire ;  and  you  feel  not  that  they 
are  the  cries  of  agony,  wrung  from  the  miserable  being 
whom  you  praise. 

"  I  learned  my  part  this  morning :  just  now  I  have 
been  repeating  it  and  trying  it.  I  am  tired,  broken 
down ;  and  to-morrow  I  must  do  the  same.  To-morrow 
evening  is  the  play.  Thus  do  I  drag  myself  to  and 
fro  :  it  is  wearisome  to  rise,  it  is  wearisome  to  go  to  bed. 
All  moves  within  me  in  an  everlasting  circle.  Then 
come  their  dreary  consolations,  and  present  themselves 
before  me ;  and  I  cast  them  out,  and  execrate  them.  I 
will  not  surrender,  not  surrender  to  necessity :  why 
should  that  be  necessary  which  crushes  me  to  the 
dust  ?     Might  it  not  be  otherwise  ?     I  am  paying  the 

344 


MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP  345 

penalty  of  being  born  a  German :  it  is  the  nature  of 
the  Germans,  that  they  bear  heavily  on  everything,  that 
everything  bears  heavily  on  them." 

"  0  my  friend  !  "  cried  Wilhelm,  "  could  you  cease  to 
whet  the  dagger  wherewith  you  are  ever  wounding  me  ! 
Does  nothing,  then,  remain  for  you  ?  Are  your  youth, 
your  form,  your  health,  your  talents,  nothing  ?  Having 
lost  one  blessing,  without  blame  of  yours,  must  you 
throw  all  the  others  after  it  ?    Is  that  also  necessary  ?  " 

She  was  silent  for  a  few  moments,  and  then  burst 
forth,  "  I  know  well,  it  is  a  waste  of  time,  nothing  but 
a  waste  of  time,  this  love  !  What  might  not,  should 
not,  I  have  done  ?  And  now  it  is  all  vanished  into  air. 
I  am  a  poor,  wretched,  lovelorn  creature,  —  lovelorn, 
that  is  all !  Oh,  have  compassion  on  me  !  God  knows 
I  am  poor  and  wretched  ! " 

She  sank  in  thought :  then,  after  a  brief  pause,  she 
exclaimed  with  violence,  "  You  are  accustomed  to  have 
all  things  fly  into  your  arms.  No :  you  cannot  feel,  no 
man  is  qualified  to  feel,  the  worth  of  a  woman  that  can 
reverence  herself.  By  all  the  holy  angels,  by  all  the 
images  of  blessedness,  which  a  pure  and  kindly  heart 
creates,  there  is  not  anything  more  heavenly  than  the 
soul  of  a  woman  giving  herself  to  the  man  she  loves ! 

"  We  are  cold,  proud,  high,  clear-sighted,  wise,  while 
we  deserve  the  name  of  women ;  and  all  these  qualities 
we  lay  down  at  your  feet,  the  instant  that  we  love, 
that  we  hope  to  excite  a  return  of  love.  Oh,  how  have 
I  cast  away  my  whole  existence  wittingly  and  wilhngly  ! 
But  now  will  I  despair,  purposely  despair.  There  is 
no  drop  of  blood  within  me  but  shall  suffer,  no  fibre 
that  I  will  not  punish.  Smile,  I  pray  you  ;  laugh  at 
this  theatrical  display  of  passion." 

Wilhelm  was  far  enough  from  any  tendency  to  laugh. 
This  horrible,  half-natural,  half-factitious  condition  of 
his  friend  afflicted  him  but  too  deeply.  He  sympa- 
thised   in   the   tortures    of   that   racking  misery :    his 


346  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

thoughts  were  wandering  in  painful  perplexities,  his 
blood  was  in  a  feverish  tumult. 

She  had  risen,  and  was  walking  up  and  down  the 
room.  "  I  see  before  me,"  she  exclaimed,  "  all  manner 
of  reasons  why  I  should  not  love  him.  I  know  he  is 
not  worthy  of  it ;  I  turn  my  mind  aside,  this  way  and 
that :  I  seize  upon  whatever  business  I  can  find.  At 
one  time  I  take  up  a  part,  though  I  have  not  to  play 
it ;  at  another,  I  begin  to  practise  old  ones,  though  I 
know  them  through  and  through ;  I  practise  them  more 
diligently,  more  minutely, — I  toil  and  toil  at  them. 
My  friend,  my  confidant,  what  a  horrid  task  is  it  to  tear 
away  one's  thoughts  from  oneself !  My  reason  suffers, 
my  brain  is  racked  and  strained :  to  save  myself  from 
madness,  I  again  admit  the  feeling  that  I  love  him. 
Yes,  I  love  him,  I  love  him ! "  cried  she,  with  a  shower 
of  tears  :  "  I  love  him,  I  shall  die  loving  him  ! " 

He  took  her  by  the  hand,  and  entreated  her  in  the 
most  earnest  manner  not  to  waste  herself  in  such  self- 
torments.  "  Oh !  it  seems  hard,"  said  he,  "  that  not 
only  so  much  that  is  impossible  should  be  denied  us, 
but  so  much  also  that  is  possible !  It  was  not  your  lot 
to  meet  with  a  faithful  heart  that  would  have  formed 
your  perfect  happiness.  It  was  mine  to  fix  the  welfare 
of  my  life  upon  a  hapless  creature,  whom,  by  the  weight 
of  my  fidelity,  I  drew  to  the  bottom  like  a  reed,  per- 
haps even  broke  in  pieces  ! " 

He  had  told  Aurelia  of  his  intercourse  with  Mari- 
ana, and  could  therefore  now  refer  to  it.  She  looked 
him  intently  in  the  face,  and  asked, "  Can  you  say  that 
you  never  yet  betrayed  a  woman,  that  you  never  tried 
with  thoughtless  gallantry,  with  false  asseverations, 
with  cajoling  oaths,  to  wheedle  favour  from  her  ? " 

"  I  can  ! "  said  Wilhelm,  "  and  indeed  without  much 
vanity :  my  life  has  been  so  simple  and  sequestered,  I 
have  had  but  few  enticements  to  attempt  such  things. 
And  what  a  warning,  my  beautiful,  my  noble,  friend,  is 


MEISTER'S    apprenticeship  347 

this  melancholy  state  in  which  I  see  you !  Accept  of 
me  a  vow,  which  is  suited  to  my  heart ;  which,  under 
the  emotion  you  have  caused  me,  has  settled  into  words 
and  shape,  and  will  be  hallowed  by  the  hour  in  which 
I  utter  it.  Each  transitory  inclination  I  will  study 
to  withstand,  and  even  the  most  earnest  I  will  keep 
within  my  bosom :  no  woman  shall  receive  an  acknowl- 
edgment of  love  from  my  Ups  to  whom  I  cannot  conse- 
crate my  life ! " 

She  looked  at  him  with  a  wild  indifference,  and  drew 
back  some  steps  as  he  offered  her  his  hand.  "  'Tis  c>f 
no  moment ! "  cried  she  :  "  so  many  women's  tears,  more 
or  fewer ;  the  ocean  will  not  swell  by  reason  of  them. 
And  yet,"  continued  she,  "  among  thousands,  one 
woman  saved ;  that  still  is  something ;  among  thou- 
sands, one  honest  man  discovered ;  this  is  not  to  be 
refused.     Do  you  know,  then,  what  you  promise  ?  " 

"  I  know  it,"  answered  Wilhelm,  with  a  smile,  and 
holding  out  his  hand. 

"  I  accept  it,  then,"  said  she,  and  made  a  movement 
with  her  right  hand,  as  if  meaning  to  take  hold  of  his ; 
but  instantly  she  darted  it  into  her  pocket,  pulled  out 
her  dagger  quick  as  lightning,  and  scored  with  the  edge 
and  point  of  it  across  his  hand.  He  hastily  drew  it 
back,  but  the  blood  was  already  running  down. 

"  One  must  mark  you  men  rather  sharply,  if  one 
would  have  you  take  heed,"  cried  she,  with  a  wild 
mirth,  which  soon  passed  into  a  quick  assiduity.  She 
took  her  handkerchief,  and  bound  his  hand  with  it  to 
staunch  the  fast-flowing  blood.  "  Forgive  a  half-crazed 
being,"  cried  she,  "  and  regret  not  these  few  drops  of 
blood.  I  am  appeased.  I  am  again  myself.  On  my 
knees  will  I  crave  your  pardon :  leave  me  the  comfort 
of  heahng  you." 

She  ran  to  her  drawer,  brought  hnt,  with  other  ap- 
paratus, staunched  the  blood,  and  viewed  the  wound 
attentively.     It  went  across  the  palm,  close  under  the 


348  MEISTER'S    APPRENTICESHIP 

thumb,  dividing  the  life-line,  and  running  toward  the 
little  finger.  She  bound  it  up  in  silence,  with  a  signifi- 
cant, reflective  look.  He  asked,  once  or  twice,  "  Aure- 
lia,  how  could  you  hurt  your  friend  ? " 

"Hush!"     rephed    she,    laying   her   finger    on   her 
mouth :     "  Hush  ! " 


END   OF   VOLUME   I. 


